W I NTE R 20 22

Pulling Back the
Curtain on the
UNcommon Man
Page 16

ALSO INSIDE

Broadcast
Opportunity
Confer Gift Creates
Center for Broadcast
Education
Page 12

GOAL!
Women’s Soccer Repeats
PSAC Championship

bloomu.edu

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

Page 27

1

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Dear BU Family,
We are pleased to bring you the Winter 2022
edition of Bloomsburg: The University Magazine.
In December, I had the honor of presiding over
the Fall Commencement ceremonies, which
were held in person with the full gamut of pomp
and circumstance for the first time since winter
2019. To see the joy of our graduates and their
families and supporters after years of hard work
is always gratifying, and I look forward to learning
of their future successes. I am grateful to our
faculty for their work in preparing our students to
reach this milestone and our staff for everything
they do in preparation for the celebration.
In this issue, we get to pull back the curtain on
our university’s most generous benefactor, Steph
Pettit. I have known Steph for several years now,
and I look forward to you getting to know him on
a deeper level. And I hope you find inspiration in
his unique perspective and drive. We are eternally
grateful to Steph and his wife, Allie, for what they
do for Husky students and student-athletes.
The Winter issue also features a story about
a recently announced gift from radio legend
Kerby Confer, which will dramatically impact
President Bashar Hanna
several programs of study, especially media and
journalism. Kerby has hosted his Radio Talent
Institute at BU for several years to benefit our students and many others. His gift will support the creation of a
state-of-the-art media center for aspiring students interested in radio, video, podcasts, live streaming, and other
forms of broadcasting careers. We also look back at the early days of the radio station on campus and celebrate
WHSK’s bright future.
Our faculty spotlight features College of Education associate professor Beth Rogowsky. Beth is co-author of
Uncommon Sense Teaching: Practical Insights in Brain Science to Help Students Learn, which is making waves in
the teaching world. More than 7,500 copies have been sold in the first six months of its release.
This issue also highlights our women’s soccer team, which won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference title
and was recognized for its great sportsmanship. While I am proud of our champions on the field, the recognition
gained for being honorable competitors is even more meaningful.
And whether it is being kind to a fellow competitor or a fellow individual, I urge everyone to live and be inspired by
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s messages of peace, hope, and love. And there is no shortage of inspirational words that
mean as much today as they did when first spoken more than a half-century ago.

Please stay healthy in 2022 and go Huskies!
Sincerely,
Bashar W. Hanna, President

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

FALL COMMENCEMENT 2021

1

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

FALL COMMENCEMENT 2021

2

Winter 2022

10

12

15

16

27

31

Contents
5 COMMON GROUND

16

PULLING BACK THE CURTAIN ON
THE UNCOMMON MAN

12 BROADCAST OPPORTUNITY

23

HUSKY NOTES

15 MOONROOF MAKES A MARK

27

ATHLETICS: A VIEW FROM THE TOP

31

THEN AND NOW: THE EVOLUTION TO A UNIVERSITY

10 SMART TEACHING

ON THE INDIE-POP SCENE

Connect with us

Pennsylvania’s State System
of Higher Education
Board of Governors
Cynthia D. Shapira, Chair
David M. Maser, Vice Chair
Samuel H. Smith, Vice Chair
Robert W. Bogle
Representative Tim Briggs
Tanya I. Garcia, Designee for
Secretary of Education Noe Ortega
William “Bill” Gindlesperger
Allison Jones, Designee for
Governor Tom Wolf
Senator Scott Martin
Marian D. Moskowitz
Secretary of Education Noe Ortega
Representative Brad Roae
Alexander C. Roberts
Senator Judith L. Schwank
Zakariya Scott
Larry C. Skinner
Skylar Walder
Neil R. Weaver
Governor Tom Wolf
Janet L. Yeomans

Chancellor,
State System of
Higher Education
Daniel Greenstein
Bloomsburg University
Council of Trustees
Judge Mary Jane Bowes, Chair
Nancy Vasta, Vice Chair
Dr. Brian O’Donnell, Secretary
Amy Brayford
Edward Edwards
Duane Greenly
Daniel Klingerman
John E. Wetzel
Raymond Zaborney
Julia Burcin, Student Trustee
President,
Bloomsburg University
Bashar W. Hanna

Executive Editor
Jennifer Umberger
Co-Editors
Eric Foster
Tom McGuire
Designer
Kerry Lord

Bloomsburg: The University Magazine is published three times
a year for alumni, students’ families, and friends of the university
Back issues may be found at bloomu.edu/magazine.
Address comments and questions to:
Bloomsburg: The University Magazine
Arts and Administration Building
400 East Second Street
Bloomsburg, PA 17815-1301

Sports
Information
Mary Raskob

Email address: magazine@bloomu.edu

Contributing
Writers
Thomas Schaeffer ’02
Andrea O’Neill ’06

Bloomsburg University is an AA/EEO institution and is accessible to disabled
persons. Bloomsburg University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color,
religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry,
disability, or veteran status in its programs and activities as required by Title IX of
the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990,
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of
1964, and other applicable statutes and University policies.

Cover Photo
Amy Chapman

Visit Bloomsburg University on the web at bloomu.edu.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

bloomu.edu

© Bloomsburg University 2022

3

Integration Update
On July 1, 2022, we officially integrate Bloomsburg, Lock
Haven, and Mansfield universities creating a student-centered,
academic powerhouse that will grow opportunities while
honoring local campus traditions.

From humble beginnings, our universities have evolved
and adapted over the years to meet the needs of students.
2022 brings the next evolution of our universities, and we’re
excited about the bright future ahead of us.

Many months of planning — with important input from
students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members—
are helping us boldly reimagine public higher education and
develop a best-in-class learning experience for all students.

As we continue on this path, it is critically important that
we develop how our integration story is told, and we
are pleased to unveil our first short-form explanation of
integration (below).

The Power of Three

What Won’t Change

Functional Area Leadership

The integration of Bloomsburg, Lock
Haven, and Mansfield universities is a
bold investment in the communities
and people of Pennsylvania. Our mission
is to expand high-quality, affordable
academic opportunities and support a
vibrant on-campus student experience.

Our footprint: No campus is closing,
and we will deliver robust residential
experiences. Students will have a home
campus and will not be required to travel
between campuses for daily classes.

We continue to be laser-focused on
creating a leadership structure that will
best serve the needs of our students
and position all of us – students,
faculty, and staff – for optimal success.

Our collective brand will maintain our
names, colors, mascots, and local traditions.
The integrated university’s name will be
used as a secondary element for Middle
States and accreditation purposes and
announced this spring.

As previously announced, the
integrated institution will consist of
five distinct divisions: Academic Affairs,
Enrollment Management, Finance and
Administration, Student Success and
Campus Life, and Advancement. Deans
and Department Chairs in Academic
Affairs were announced by the Provosts
and APSCUF in early November.

Powerful ideas start here, carried by
dynamic stories and voices, resulting
in empowered students. Together, we
provide financially responsible degree
options that maximize experiential
learning, career preparation, and
efficient time to degree completion.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

We’re honoring our history by
preserving the founding principles
of each campus and continuing as
pillars of our communities, supporting
students and our neighbors alike.

4

We’re investing in today by answering
the greatest challenges facing higher
education: accessibility, cost, quality,
and relevance through the combined
strength of our storied institutions.
We’re building a powerful tomorrow
by boldly changing the trajectory of
public higher education to position
ourselves for growth and meet economic
and workforce development needs in our
region, across Pennsylvania and beyond.
That’s the power of three.

Our athletic brands: Each campus
will retain a full complement of NCAA
programs and we are working to
confirm this path in the spring.
Our academic mission: Students will be
able to complete the programs they start;
it is our academic contract with them.
Our commitment to a world-class
education: Real-time technology will
support new collaborative learning
environments while program-based
field study, semester residency, or
other multi-campus experiences will
be developed.
Our commitment to generous alumni
and donors: Foundations and alumni
associations remain separate. Donors
may still designate funds to support
programs or a campus/campuses of
their choosing.

You can learn more
about the integration
plans by visiting
www.bloomu.edu/integration.

COMMON GROUND

Northeast Triad Selected
for Gates Foundation
Transformation Program
Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield universities
were among 15 institutions selected by the American
Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)
to participate in the newly launched Transformation
Accelerator Cohort (TAC). The program, funded by the
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is designed to help
institutions eliminate race, ethnicity, and income as
predictors of student success.
In addition to the Northeast triad, the inaugural cohort —
selected through a highly competitive application process —
comprises the following AASCU institutions: Albany State
University (Ga.), California State University—Fresno, Central
Connecticut State University, College of Staten Island
CUNY, Metropolitan State University of Denver, SUNY
College at Oswego, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi,
Texas A&M Kingsville, Prairie View A&M University (Texas),
Texas A&M University System, Texas A&M University—San
Antonio, University of Hawaii at Hilo, University of Maryland
Eastern Shore, and William Paterson University (N.J.).
The selected institutions serve 120,525 students, with an
average Pell eligibility of 48 percent.

contradictions, hold ourselves accountable, and strengthen
our skills for our historically underrepresented populations.”
The TAC cohort approach involves peer-to-peer learning
across institutions via in-person and online Student
Success Academies. Participants will have access to
resources, such as online modules and webinars, and
receive support from experts in data analytics, equity,
student success, advising, institutional transformation,
and strategic and systems planning.
“This effort aligns perfectly with the mission of our system
of public universities — closing achievement gaps and
ensuring every student has the opportunity to enroll, persist,
and graduate,” said Dan Greenstein, PASSHE chancellor.
“We have a responsibility to every one of our students from
every part of the Commonwealth, and we are lucky to have
institutions like Mansfield, Bloomsburg, and Lock Haven
that have already made such incredible strides in promoting
equitable outcomes for all our students. I look forward to
seeing the work that results from this partnership.”

The two-year, team-based learning program accelerates
institutional transformation by providing customized
support for making data-informed decisions grounded in
students’ realities. Campus leaders will learn best practices
to close equity gaps and achieve student success goals for
underrepresented students.
“The values and principles that the TAC espouses will help
our campus communities grow and be better at understanding
a student experience that may be different than our own,”
said Diana Rogers-Adkinson, BU provost and senior vice
president for academic affairs. “It will also show that we
need to view learning through an intersectional lens and to
understand the needs of all student populations and more
responsibly identify inequities. Finally, this program will
challenge us to understand our biases, identify our

Offering a Helping Hand for Tech
Students from the Zeigler College of Business held a
free two-hour technology training session for older
adults in November. Pi Omega Pi, a business education
national honor society, and Beta Gamma Sigma, an
international business honor society, hosted the event.
In all, 15 older adults were present and assisted by
five students (Katie Trainello, Sydney Moyer, Kimberly
Speece, Andrew McNeal Jr. and Rachel Clouser) and
three faculty members (Christina Force, Jeremy Jeffery
and Scott Mehall). Shown are Rachel Clouser (standing),
a senior finance major, working with Eva Moyer and
Sally Chamberlain.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

“It is an honor to be one of just 15 institutions nationwide to
be selected for this impactful and important program that
focuses specifically on parity in student outcomes for Black,
Latinx, Indigenous, and low-income students,” said Bashar
Hanna, president of Bloomsburg University and interim
president of both Lock Haven and Mansfield universities.
“The Transformation Accelerator Cohort will serve as a
catalyst in continuing to advance practices and policies to
ensure our campuses are places of welcome and courage,
where every student, especially those of any difference, are
embraced and supported. Their success is pivotal to the
success of our campuses as well as our nation’s success.”

5

news on campus

COMMON GROUND

Giving Businesses a Boost
ZEIGLER COLLEGE OF BUSINESS LAUNCHES CONSULTING PRACTICE
Businesses and nonprofits in the
region can now get expert guidance
from Zeigler Business Consulting, a
multidisciplinary practice launched by
the Zeigler College of Business that
offers the services of BU professors.
“This program will yield multiple
collaborations between university
professors and local businesses in an
overall effort to enhance the local
economy and provide meaningful
learning experiences for students,” said
Todd Shawver, Zeigler College dean.
The consulting service has already begun
working with a client business in the

Allentown area, according to Shawver.
Professors from marketing, accounting,
information technology, finance,
management, and other areas will
provide tiered service levels, allowing
area businesses to access skilled
consulting services to help them
reach the next level.
“As businesses contend with the new
landscape brought on by the pandemic
and other economic conditions, fresh
thinking and approaches can help them
survive and thrive,” Shawver says.
Businesses and nonprofits can purchase
ZBC consulting packages to address

marketing, accounting, finance, and
management issues, helping them with
contemporary problems such as supply
chain management and information
technology.
“This is a win for both our local
businesses and our students,” said
BU Provost and Senior Vice President
Diana Rogers-Adkinson. “Our faculty
will utilize their vast expertise to
help businesses be successful
and simultaneously provide rich
experiential learning experiences for
our students. It will lead to both shortterm and long-term results for the
community.”

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

International Business Students Place Fourth

6

BU’s Global Business Association took fourth place at the
2021 San Diego State University-CUIBE (The Consortium
for Undergraduate International Business Education)
International Business Case Competition in October.
Students Kirna Cabrera, Ashley Davis, Glenn Klinger, and
Maranda Plunkett, presented their strategic analysis and
recommendations on the case “EMMA Safety Footwear
(A): Designing a Circular Shoe.” The case touched on critical
issues in various business functions in the global environment,
including supply chain management, human resource
management, marketing, finance, technology, and sustainability.
The judges applauded the team for their effective use of
the case data, clear identification of key issues, and quality
of recommendation and implementation. They were also
impressed with the quality of the team’s presentation.
“We came to this competition knowing that it was extremely
challenging since all participating teams came from great
schools. However, our students have showcased their
impressive knowledge in international business, analytical
and problem-solving skills, and above all, excellent teamwork,”

The BU team poses with their awards. Maranda Plunkett,
Glenn Klinger, Ashley Davis, Kirna Cabrera, Lam Nguyen
(BU team adviser), and John Putman, director of international
business at San Diego State University.

said Lam Nguyen, chair of the Department of Management
and International Business and the team’s adviser. The
team was also coached by Wai Kwan (Elaine) Lau, associate
professor of management and international business.

COMMON GROUND

Paid Internships,
Guaranteed
Students majoring in professional
sales and marketing will have access
to a guaranteed paid internship
with Paychex, Inc. starting in the
fall of 2022. BU is the first school
that Paychex is partnering with for
guaranteed paid internships.
Paychex, Inc. is a leading provider of
integrated human capital management
solutions for payroll, benefits, human
resources, and insurance services.
The company services more than
700,000 clients in the United States
and Europe and is the largest human
resources company for small to
medium-sized businesses.
“This is an incredible opportunity for
our students in professional sales and
marketing,” said BU President Bashar
Hanna. “Many thanks to Dr. Monica Favia
(chair of the Department of Marketing
and Professional Sales) and Scott
Barr of Paychex for putting together
this first-of-its-kind program. It will
provide our students real-world job
experience in a very competitive field.”
The internships will begin as online
experiences but will transition to a
hybrid model later.

“Paychex has been very supportive of
our marketing and professional sales
program,” said Favia. “They want to
be the employer of choice, and this
is a big step in that direction.”

forward to more. Multiple departments
at Paychex worked together to gain
approval on the internship program,
and it will open many doors for
Bloomsburg students.”

Barr, district sales manager for
Paychex’s Allentown office, has been
impressed with BU’s students.

BU was first named among the top
North American schools in 2015 by
the Sales Education Foundation’s
(SEF) listing of the best universities
offering professional sales education.
BU is one of only five Pennsylvania
institutions included in the listing.
SEF recognizes institutions for
elevating the sales profession
through university education.

“The Paychex-BU partnership started
years ago with the sales competition
and just grew from there,” said Barr.
“I was immediately impressed with
the quality of students that Professor
Favia was turning out, and through my
many contacts with them, found that
they were truly “field ready.” We have
been fortunate to hire a number of the
graduates of this program and look

More than 60 faculty members were recognized for earning
a nationally recognized teaching credential co-endorsed by
the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE)
and the American Council on Education (ACE).
Faculty demonstrated their commitment to student success
by completing a year-long course on Effective Online Teaching
Practices to equip them with the instructional skills shown
to promote student motivation, learning and persistence.
“Congratulations to our faculty who have earned this
teaching credential from the ACUE,” said BU President
Bashar Hanna. “This program fits perfectly with BU’s
continued efforts to focus on student success. Earning this
credential affirms our faculty’s commitment to our students.”
To earn their Certificate in Effective College Instruction,
faculty members completed a 25-module course that

required them to learn about and implement new
evidence-based teaching practices in their courses and
reflect on the experience. Aligned with the latest research in
cognition and adult learning, ACUE’s courses address over
200 evidence-based teaching practices, covering how to
design an effective course, establish a productive learning
environment, use active learning techniques, promote
higher order thinking and conduct assessments to inform
instruction and promote learning.
Faculty will continue to learn about pedagogy and
receive career-long support through ACUE’s Community
of Professional Practice, which provides access to
member forums, expert webinars, biweekly newsletters,
the ‘Q’ Blog, and “office hours” with leading scholars in
college instruction.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

Faculty Hone Online Teaching Skills

7

news on campus

COMMON GROUND

Forging a Path for Student Success
BU PARTNERS WITH LEHIGH CARBON
Graduates of Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC)
will be guaranteed admission and have a chance to earn
a scholarship to BU thanks to a new transfer agreement
signed by the two institutions.
Students must complete at least 30 credits at LCCC, then
apply for admission to BU. They must then graduate with an
associate degree in any of LCCC’s majors.
Under the agreement, LCCC graduates will enter BU with
at least junior standing in a comparable parallel major.
They are also guaranteed a renewable transfer scholarship
based on their academic performance. Depending on the
student’s grade point average, these transfer scholarships
are valued between $1,500 and $3,000 annually at
Bloomsburg. Students must maintain an overall GPA of at
least 2.50 and be enrolled full-time to remain eligible.
“We are delighted to collaborate with our colleagues at
Lehigh Carbon Community College to provide students
from LCCC seamless matriculation to Bloomsburg and
provide students with a guaranteed renewable transfer
scholarship,” said BU President Bashar Hanna. “BU is
committed to working with community college partners
to ensure students have the best path to success. This
agreement is another example of partnerships in action.”

From left: Diana Rogers-Adkinson, Bloomsburg University
provost and senior vice-president; Ann Bieber, Lehigh Carbon
Community College president; Bashar Hanna, Bloomsburg
University president; Larissa Verta, LCCC vice president for
academic services and student success.

Engaged WITH U.S. CYBER COMMAND NETWORK

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

The Department of Mathematics and Digital Sciences has
been selected by the U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM)
as one of 84 colleges and universities to be part of its new
Academic Engagement Network (AEN).

8

“Cyber Command’s goal for the AEN is to strengthen our
relationships and communication with these participating
institutions,” said CYBERCOM’s executive director David
Frederick. “This will improve and sustain our efforts to meet
cyberspace educational requirements and workforce needs.”
The command will use the AEN to support and enhance
four primary lines of effort: future workforce, applied
cyber research, applied analytics, and strategic issues.
With its academic partners, it can shape the nation’s cyber
workforce while supporting the command’s mission. For
the AEN, strong partnerships are vital to remain agile and
ready in the cyber domain. The AEN extends partnerships
to institutions through collaboration and access to
CYBERCOM through scheduled events and engagements.

“We are honored to be part of this prestigious group of
institutions to join the U.S. Cyber Command Academic
Engagement Network,” said BU President Bashar Hanna.
“By collaborating with CYBERCOM we can cultivate a
strong cyber security workforce to help mitigate and
successfully manage the threats to our nation.”
Diane Barrett, associate professor of mathematical and
digital sciences, will coordinate the partnership.
“One of our goals is to engage and inspire students to consider
careers in Department of Defense, both in the military and as
civilians,” said Barrett. “We want to broaden awareness of
some great internship programs that Cyber Command runs,
as does the service commands.”
“We also hope to expand partnerships with academia
to build better relationships and take advantage of the
deep expertise in academia about our adversaries’ cyber
strategies and organizations,” said Barrett.

COMMON GROUND

A ‘Shoppe’ to
Help Students
Succeed
Students from BU’s Act 101 program
now have a place on campus now
have a place on campus where they
can grab clothing, food, and culturallyrelevant personal care items. Located
in the Greenly Center, the Basic Needs
Shoppe features non-perishable food
items, hair care products, and even new
dress clothes for students who would
be going out on job interviews.
“If your basic needs are met, you’re
able to perform better, you’re able to
do better,” said Ralph Godbolt, BU’s
director of access and success. Godbolt

added that over the fall semester, 182
students in the state’s equal opportunity
program used the shop.
“Having a lot of the stuff that we got
here just helps us out a lot, whether it’s
shampoos, or conditioners, especially
for textured hair because it is harder to
find,” said sophomore Destiny Martinez.
Student Iyonna Ben-Oduro agreed.
“I have coarse hair, so when they
came here with the more cultural hair
products and skin products, it pretty
much made me feel a lot better.”

In addition to providing a variety of
items, the Basic Needs Shoppe also
serves cooking demonstrations,
education on housing and food and
basic needs insecurity, as well as
information on the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
and assistance in applying for the
program.
For more information or to support
the Basic Needs Shoppe contact Ralph
Godbolt at rgodbolt@bloomu.edu.

Chemistry Student Earns Research Awards
The award goes to approximately
12 students per year and this year
Eby is the only awardee from a public,
primarily undergraduate institution.
Other 2022 award winners attend
Duke, Rutgers, North Carolina State,
Louisville, Kansas, Johns Hopkins,
Case Western, Oregon State and
Washington University in St. Louis.
Eby has been conducting research in the
lab of American Society of Biochemistry
& Molecular Biology Education Fellow
Michael Borland, professor of chemistry
and biochemistry, since the spring
2021 semester. The research is funded
by a PASSHE Faculty Professional
Development grant.
Eby’s work studies how a cellular receptor,
called PPAR-Beta/Delta, can be targeted
as a potential malignant melanoma
therapeutic. She uses pharmaceutical
activators of PPAR-Beta/Delta and
cutting-edge laboratory techniques
at BU to study cancer cell growth
and tumor formation. Her studies have

also examined how chemical changes
to PPAR-Beta/Delta activators can alter
the anti-cancer effects. Eby has been
instrumental in mentoring new students
to the lab group. Eby and Borland are
preparing the work for publication in
a toxicology or cancer-related peerreviewed scientific journal.
“Quite honestly, if you told me told four
years ago when I started college that
I would be working with melanoma
cancer, I would not believe it,” said
Eby. “For a long time, it was a goal of
mine to partake in research of some
kind. I just was not sure how to get
involved. I am very grateful that Dr.
Borland offered me a chance to join
his lab because I have learned so much
and gained amazing opportunities.”
“I plan to attend graduate school in
the fall. My long-term goals involve
medical school; however, I am not
ready to give up research just yet. My
plan is to pursue both an M.D. and Ph.D.”

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

Senior Helena Eby has won a Society
of Toxicology (SOT) Undergraduate
Research Award to be presented at the
2022 SOT Conference in San Diego
from March 27-31.

9

COMMON GROUND

news on campus

“Growing up, I worked in our family’s child care center,
and I learned early on that organizing toddlers for a
picture can be a lot like herding cats,” says Beth
Rogowsky, Ed.D. “After high school, I went on to
college at BU (’96/’01M). Becoming a teacher was a
natural fit, given all my hands-on training with the
little ones.”
Before returning to BU, where she is an associate
professor of teaching and learning, Rogowsky taught
for more than a decade in rural and urban middle
school classrooms and completed a three-year postdoc fellowship in neuroscience at Rutgers University.
The combination of hands-on teaching experience
and scientific research made her the perfect co-author for
the book, Uncommon Sense Teaching: Practical
Insights in Brain Science to Help Students Learn,
which is making waves in the teaching world. It’s
sold more than 7,500 copies in the first six months
of its release, ranks ninth on Amazon’s list of inclusive
education books, and is being translated into eight
languages.
“We need to start basing our teaching on the science
of learning. Unfortunately, teacher education textbooks don’t typically include the neuroscience of
what makes effective teaching, and if they do, they
make sweeping generalizations that offer little insight.
Likewise, most neuroscientists are not directly applying
their research to education. There remains a
disconnect—until now,” says Rogowsky, a Danville,
Pa., native and first-generation college student.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

SMART
TEACHING

10

Professor Co-Authors Book
on the Science of Learning
By Eric Foster

As an educator, Beth Rogowsky
is a veteran. And today, her
expertise is making a global
impact on education.

Uncommon Sense Teaching changes that. The
book was written over a two-year period with
neuroscientist Terrence Sejnowski and engineer
Barbara Oakley, who teach the massive open online
course, Learning How to Learn, with over 3 million
enrolled. The co-authors met in late 2018, began
writing in 2019, and devoted the fall of 2020 to
editing. For the final three semesters of the process,
Rogowsky used the book draft in her classes and
got feedback from her students.
“There are a lot of trends in education that aren’t
valid,” says Rogowsky. “Too many bells and whistles
don’t work. Hands-on doesn’t necessarily mean
minds-on. Active learning is about the pathways
neurons take in your brain. Honestly, it has nothing to
do with arts and crafts projects or excessive time on
low-level regurgitating of basic facts and definitions.”
What does work?
“Direct instruction,” says Rogowsky, “the teacher
presenting to the class for short periods of time.
Coupled with guided practice and immediate feedback.
Otherwise, students may repeat the same mistakes.
For students to improve, they need the teacher’s
feedback. When you look at how the brain works,
we need repetition. That takes time. Time with
built-in deliberate practice. We call it ‘drill to skill.’”

COMMON GROUND

Teacher of the Year
By Tom McGuire
Stephanie Gardner
has been named
the 2021 Teacher
Educator of the Year
by the Pennsylvania
Association of
Colleges and Teacher
Educators (PAC-TE).
The statewide award,
PAC-TE’s most
prestigious, is based
on faculty teaching,
scholarship, and
service.

“My BU students’ feedback helped make the book clear
and relatable,” says Rogowsky. “This is the book that I wish
I had when I began my teaching career, but it couldn’t have
been written in the 1990s because we needed to tap into
the most recent neuroscience that wasn’t even available or
known about in some cases until just a few years ago.”
But even non-teachers can find the book useful. “It’s a
book about learning. There are strategies you can use to
help yourself learn and to help your children learn.”
Rather than publish it as an expensive textbook, the trio
opted to go through the challenging process of selling
the concept to a leading mass-market publisher, Penguin
Random House, so it would be affordable and accessible.
And today, the development of the internet means that
the lessons of the book can also be found online as a
MOOC (Massive Online Open Course) on Coursera.org
with over 10,000 enrolled. “The MOOC is where the book
really comes to life,” says Rogowsky.
“Back in the ’90s when I was sitting in the seats of McCormick
as an undergrad, I dreamed I would make a difference to the
field of education. I just had no idea that dream would lead to
all this.”

At BU, Gardner earned the Provost’s Award for
Excellence in Research/Scholarly Activity; was the
McDowell Institute Faculty Fellowship recipient
(2019-2021); and was named the Vicki and John
Mihalik Faculty Fellow in 2020 (a two-year
appointment). In the community, she is the lead
faculty adviser of the Trinity Learning Community
student organization, which supports adults with
disabilities living in Bloomsburg.
Gardner credits her mother for inspiring her to become
a teacher. “My mom has been a pivotal influence as
to why I am in the field of special education. She is a
graduate of BU, having gone through her undergraduate
program in special education as a nontraditional
student with two young children. Growing up, I saw
her persevere to achieve her dream. Her involvement
as a therapeutic horseback riding instructor and as a
homebound instruction special educator made me
realize that I wanted to find my place in this world,
supporting and advocating for individuals with special
needs. My mom is one of the most selfless, accepting,
and joy-filled people I know, and a true educator at
heart.”

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

It’s an instructional strategy that will be familiar to any
athlete or musician — fields where coaches and teachers
rely on repeated drills to build “muscle memory.” The
same principle works for academic subjects … repetition
strengthens connections between neural links in the
brain. Those strengthened neural connections mean that
information becomes readily accessible when needed.

“To be honored with
this award through
an organization I
am grateful to be
a part of is a very
humbling feeling and a moment that I will not forget,”
says Gardner, assistant professor of exceptionality
programs in the College of Education. “I have been
actively involved in PAC-TE for the last eight years and
greatly value all of the opportunities my involvement
has opened up to me in building relationships with
colleagues, advocating for our teacher preparation
programs, and collaborating with key stakeholders
at the state level.”

11

Artist rendering of remodeled space.

CONFER GIFT WILL CREATE A HUB FOR BROADCAST EDUCATION

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

By Eric Foster, Thomas Schaeffer, and Tom McGuire

12

As a teenager in his hometown of Williamsport, Kerby Confer would
lie awake at night listening through the crackle and hiss of faraway
stations on his transistor radio, hoping one day to be that voice on the
other end of the mic. “I was dreaming I would be on the air, and with
no idea and no money for college. Just my grandmother’s intuition
and encouragement that I could do whatever I thought I could do.”

station that wasn’t even on the air yet
and did what you did in those days to
get a job. And that was to keep hanging
around until they said, ‘Kid, get lost or
empty the wastebaskets.’ And I did for
a year until they went live, and they
gave me a minimum wage job for a
buck an hour.”

Sixty-five years later, Confer, a legend
in the radio industry, is focusing his
creative energy to create a new legacy
with a $5.3 million gift to the BU
Foundation designed to support and
inspire the next generation of students
to become professionals in the
broadcasting industry.

Confer’s time listening to the radio was
well-spent. On air, his talent found larger
and larger audiences, moving into
progressively larger markets, including
Harrisburg, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre,
and Syracuse.

A portion of the gift will create a stateof-the-art media center for students
aspiring to achieve success in the fields
of radio, video, podcasts, livestreaming,
and other forms of broadcasting. In
recognition of the impact this gift will
have on the university, BU will name
the new facility the Kerby Confer
Media Center.
The Confer Media Center, to be located
in the soon-to-be renovated McCormick
Center for Human Services, will include
a fully renovated radio station, TV studio,
newsroom, and interactive collaboration
space where students and faculty can
actively share ideas and experiences.
The media and journalism program,
having more than doubled in size and

scope since its inception, is one of
Bloomsburg’s largest majors and has
outgrown its current space. This gift
will also fund new scholarships to help
recruit and retain students across the
region interested in pursuing careers
in the media and journalism industry.
“This is an extraordinary gift from
Kerby that will help us provide access
to value-added experiential learning
opportunities for all students,” says
BU President Bashar Hanna. “We talk
about what helps BU stand out to prospective students in terms of preparing
them for success after graduation, and
this is an amazing example of what
that looks like as we move forward.
I can’t thank Kerby enough for his
commitment to helping us bring that
vision to life.”
“In my day, the way that you got into
radio was you either got a college
education and some credentials, or
you just hung around trying to be
noticed,” says Confer of his youth. “I
started hanging around a new radio

By his twenties, he was on the airwaves
in the Baltimore-Washington markets
for WCAO Radio and WBAL-TV in
Baltimore and WDCA-TV in Washington,
D.C. His was the first integrated TV
dance show in America, which inspired
movie and Broadway productions of
“Hairspray,” and hosted major stars
including the Beatles, the Rolling
Stones, Stevie Wonder, the Supremes,
and James Brown.
In the late ’60s and ’70s, Confer began
managing then purchasing radio stations
and turning them into market leaders.
“In those days, there were 1,500 radio
stations in the United States total,”
says Confer, who was inducted into
the Pennsylvania Broadcasters Hall
of Fame in 2003. “Today, there are
15,000 radio stations in the United

“People will knock on the door of one
of my radio stations, and they will ask
how to get on the air? And we’ll ask,
what are your credentials? And they’ll
say I made this tape. They really don’t
have any credentials. They want to be
on the radio. They want to be on the
air. They want to connect. They want
to communicate. They don’t know
how to put all of it together.”

Long-time friends Kerby and Judy Confer on the right and Steve and Kathy Kirk
on the left on a recent trip to Italy.

The secret to Confer’s success is his
deep understanding of how personal
radio is. “It’s the original social media.
There’s real-time interaction with the
audience. Radio is my real-life connection
to what Flip Wilson called ‘the church
of what’s happening now.’”
He also became a master of branding.
“I started realizing that graphic branding
and call letters were important. There
were some radio stations that for some
reason, people remember better.”
“In 1978 in Little Rock, Arkansas, I took
over a bankrupt station. The area never
had a country format on the FM dial.
The call letters, KSSN, spelled kissing.
I married it up to a lipstick imprint and
to introduce the station had bumper
stickers made, ‘I’m KSSN in my car’
with the lipstick imprint. We went from
a 0 to 22 share in the first year.”
He repeated the success at numerous
stations around the country, including
WBVR, The Beaver, in Bowling Green,
Ky., and WFRG, 96 Frog, in Utica, N.Y.
In the mid-80s, a two-week African safari
with his new wife and stepson would lead
Confer to take his radio branding strategy
to an even higher level. The Confer family
was partnered with Steve and Kathy Kirk.
Steve was head of audio-animatronics
and Kathy head Imagineer for Walt Disney.
“I’m a Disney-phile. I’d been collecting
original cels from animated movies
for about five years at that point,” says
Confer, who shared stories of his radio
career. The Kirk’s loved the Beaver station

concept, but Kathy asked, “what’s the
mnemonic device?” and told Confer
to close his eyes while she did a
Mickey Mouse voice to demonstrate.
The problem was the Beaver had no
mnemonic device. So Confer came up
with the idea of a talking Frog.
And then she asked, “what are the
names of the cast members? It’s a
theme park on the radio, the DJ names
are the cast members. For example, Tad
Pole and Polly Wog.”
“It was a life-changing and careerchanging experience for me,” says Confer.
“They are our best friends. This summer
we will go on our 35th trip with them.”
With radio providing so many life-changing
opportunities for Confer, he had a vision
of helping a new generation of students
access the same opportunities.

“And that’s what started me, eight years
ago, thinking if there’s any legacy I’m
capable of leaving, it’s going to be to
create a radio talent institute and bring
all the best of my people and the crème
de la crème of the other broadcasters,
primarily in the northeast. Basically,
open doors for these students.”
Since making his first gift to BU in 2013
to establish the Confer Radio Talent
Institute, Confer has grown his support
each year, continually increasing access
to professional experiences for students
entering the radio and broadcasting
industry. He has made gifts to create
scholarships, fund a faculty fellowship,
upgrade equipment, and rebrand BU’s
student radio station – personally

Kerby Confer meets with students
in the campus radio station, WHSK,
in 2019. Shown with Confer are
from left: Nassir Bryant, Molly
Nesselrodt, and Catherine Rose.
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

States, and I am very blessed to say I
own 80 of them. My daughter owns 50
of them, the majority of which are in
Pennsylvania.”

“From becoming an on-air personality
to selling advertisements, I had to
learn it all,” says Confer. “What hasn’t
changed today is these students will
still have to learn all those things to
be successful. What has changed is
we can make it easier for them to do
that by giving them a head start. That’s
what I want to provide.”

13

Confer gift continued…

purchasing the new station call letters
of WHSK-Home of the Huskies. His
latest gift brings his total contributions
to more than $6.1 million.
“The evolution of Kerby’s involvement
here at BU and his commitment to
engaging with our students has been
immensely valuable to their education,”
says James Brown, BU’s Dean of the
College of Liberal Arts. “For him to take
that commitment to an even higher level
and provide this type of professional

S M A L L

setting in which our students will learn
and grow shows how dedicated he is
to their success.”
“Nothing would have happened without
the intuition of Dr. Jim Brown, who was
the driving force to bring the institute to
Bloomsburg, which I will be forever
grateful,” says Confer. “Then Dr. Hanna
came along and had a vision. Maybe
we could be the Northcentral
Pennsylvania hub for media. I looked
around and said, nobody has such a

S T A T I O N

By Tom McGuire
The history of radio at Bloomsburg
University dates back to the 1970s,
starting with WBSC-AM 640 before the
university was granted an FM license in
1985 when WBUQ-FM, 91.1, debuted.
In 2019, the station changed call letters
to WHSK with the assistance of Kerby
Confer. “WHSK because the mascot of
the station is the Husky,” says Confer.
“Husky 91 or 91 the Husky, there are
so many great graphic and mnemonic
possibilities.”

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

The 1970s WBSC was a low-power
radio transmission that used the AC
electrical system of a building to
broadcast an AM signal to lower
campus and a few surrounding blocks.
The station broadcast to the campus
from the second floor of Kehr Union
and featured a staff of about 20 students
before going off the air in 1986.

14

Gene “Stosh” Stachcak ’80 was one of
the station announcers in the early days.
“I got involved because I wasn’t doing
so well as a math major and really always wanted to be on the radio,” says
Staschak. “Because of WBSC, I had a
31-year career in radio working
in the Poconos, the Lehigh Valley,
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and Philadelphia.”
For Carol Seidel ’84, who also had a
distinguished broadcasting career, the
station felt big time despite its low power.
“I did a show, “Bloomsburg’s Best Rock,”
a few nights each week,” says Seidel.

thing. Wow. The very first moment
I saw the plan, I said yes.”
“I’m extremely excited. The geographic
location and the integration of
Bloomsburg University with Lock
Haven and Mansfield. These are the
areas where my daughter and I grew
up, and these are the areas that we
know and love and cherish.”
“As the Beatles wrote and sang, it’s
been ‘a long and winding road.’ We’ve
got a lot of road ahead of us.”

“We were over the moon excited to be
going FM and have new equipment to
learn on,” says Fickes, who now owns
a television production company. “Most
of all we were excited to be the first
alternative music station in the county.
We didn’t want to be like any other
radio station in the area. At the time
we went on the air, the bands that
were new and up coming were: Velvet
Underground, U2, REM, The Smiths,
The Cure, and so many others. We had
two brilliant music directors, Frank
Minishak and Eric Kehs who in my
opinion could have programmed any
of the big city alternative radio stations.”
In the early years of the station,
the student staff was very active at
campus events.

“By working at the station, I obtained
my third class broadcasters license which
was needed to work on the air at the
time. WBSC also gave me the chance
to learn how to use a control board,
plan my show, play some awesome
music and develop on-air rapport with
listeners (my fellow Huskies!) There
was a large album library, a production
room, and lots of room for creativity.”
Seidel later worked at ROCK 107 (WEZX)
in Scranton and then WHTF, 92.7 in
Harrisburg/Lancaster/York for close to
20 years where she was both promotions
and music director. The Pennsylvania
Association of Broadcasters recognized
her in the late ’90s for commercials
she voiced. While no longer in radio
full time, she does independent voice
work from her home studio.
In 1985, 16 years after applying for a
600-watt FM license, the school was
granted a frequency, 91.1. Dan Fickes
’85 M’86 was the station’s first general
manager.

“One year we entered a “float” (a pickup
truck with speakers) in the Homecoming
parade with the theme of Ferris
Bueller’s Day Off,” says Ted Hodgins ’89.
“We also did a live broadcast from the
Renaissance Jamboree in downtown
Bloomsburg with a live interview with
then-President Harry Ausprich.
“WBUQ also did live broadcasts of many
sporting events including football, men’s
and women’s basketball and wrestling
events; all with student announcers
and producers,” Hodgins says. “These
were all great hands-on experiences.”
Music, of course, was the big draw for
students to join the staff.
Students like Christina (Chuck)
Samtmann ’90, took advantage of
a chance to be a DJ and spent three
years at the station. “During my shows
I played classic and alternative rock
music,” says Samtmann. “My friend
Jen Glancy would join me for my
classic rock show. We had a ball.”
Today WHSK can be heard on the web
through www.bloomu.edu/whsk.

MOONROOF
Makes a Mark
in Indie-Pop
Music Scene
By Eric Foster
It can pay to sing in the shower.
Philadelphia indie-pop band Moonroof
owes its start to Dave Kim ’16 singing
in the shower of Luzerne Hall in
September of his freshmen year.
The sound attracted the attention
of drummer Dan Rendine ’16. “Dan
knocked on my door and told me he’d
been in a band in high school,” recalls
Kim, who was already roommates
with bassist Kevin Randolph ’16.
“We started jamming in the lounge,”
says Rendine. Jams became gigs as a
group called The Big Picture,
performing at open mics and parties.
At BU, theatre major Kim was a
member of the Husky Singers, mass
communications major Randolph
worked in the Kehr Union setting up
events, and exercise science major
Rendine took lessons with BU’s
percussion professor Gifford Howarth.

They’ve been busy through the COVID-19
pandemic, signing with Free Dive
Records in October of 2020, releasing
four singles, “First,” “Vanilla,” “Sweatshirt,”
and “Bored and Numb.” Their EP “Dream
State” dropped this past October and

debuted as the No. 2 alternative album
behind ColdPlay and No. 6 overall on
the Apple iTunes Top 200.
“We’re a band that loves to sing about
the theme of love, we try to be catchy
and danceable. But a lot of the lyrics
are about how it doesn’t work out,”
says Kim, who notes the writing
process is very collaborative. “Kevin
uses his basslines as a melody. Dan’s
drums work with basslines. Lyrics
come last.” Recording works similarly,
with drums and bass going down first
and working up to the vocals.
YouTube videos, regularly featuring
BU swag, are a big part of the band’s

marketing with more than 220,000
views.
“We take a lot of time to make our
singles pop out,” says Rendine. “Now
you need to have visuals. The music
and the visuals come together to
make the song more memorable.”
“We’re excited to keep growing, and
we wouldn’t be where we are without
Bloomsburg,” says Randolph. “We can’t
wait to come back and play in Bloom.”
The Bloomsburg community will have
a chance to see Moonroof live when
they play the Renaissance Jamboree
on April 30.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

After graduation, the band stayed
together, renamed itself Moonroof,
and began penning upbeat, indiepop tunes ripe with hooks. Hooks
that have earned radio play on
Philadelphia-area radio stations Alt
104.5 and WXPN, 3 million streams
on Spotify alone, and allowed the
group to share the stage with indie
heavyweights The Lumineers, Death
Cab for Cutie, and Grouplove.

From left: Danny Walsh, Kevin
Randolph ’16, Dan Rendine ’16
and Dave Kim ’16.

15
15

16

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

PULLING BACK THE CURTAIN ON

By Tom McGuire

Take a drive through Tampa at 5 a.m., and gaze upward to the
Bank of America building’s 31st floor. You’ll see the lights from
Clean Earth Systems Inc. already blazing. Company CEO Steph
Pettit ’89 is reviewing invoices, answering emails, and preparing
for the next challenge today’s economy will throw at him. It’s a
work ethic that has enabled Pettit to become BU’s largest donor
ever — with gifts totaling more than $12.5 million.
But Pettit is more than just a shrewd businessman. He’s a son,
husband, father, and mentor. He’s an inventor, workout fanatic,
music lover, and hockey player. He’s as comfortable discussing
supply chain issues with his suppliers as he is hanging out at
home watching television with his wife, Allie.
That disciplined yet humorous, fun-loving personality is what
makes Steph Pettit an uncommon man.

GROWING UP
One of five children of Sue and Howard
Pettit, Steph was born in Florida, moved
to Ohio at age 6, then to Middletown, N.J.
But he wasn’t the “cool kid” you’d imagine
him to be in elementary school.
“My given name is Stephan, but my
parents always called me Steph when I
was younger,” says Pettit. “When I started
school, I told my classmates my name
was Steph. That didn’t go over well, and
I was teased quite a bit for having a ‘girl’s’
name. At that point, I asked my mother to
call me Steve so the teasing would stop.”

At his wedding reception last June, his
new bride couldn’t figure out why some
of Steph’s friends from elementary school
were calling her husband ‘Steve.”
“I didn’t know about the history of “Steve”
until our wedding day,” Allie says. “It
caught me by surprise.”
Pettit gravitated to sports, playing football,
baseball, and basketball at Middletown South
High School. But football was his true calling
because of the physical nature of the sport.
“I could have gone to an Ivy League school,
but when I came to visit BU, I fell in love
with the place.”

Academically, Steph began as an economics
major but realized the “fun” factor wasn’t
there.
“It was too dry,” laughs Steph. “Some of
my buddies told me about mass
communications and the wide range of
skills you could develop. So I switched
majors, although I still took many business
classes.” It proved to be a wise decision.
After graduating, he took a job at Earnest
& Julio Gallo Wines in Orlando and later
Tampa, but his upward movement in the
company slowed after three years.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

And “Steve” he remained throughout
elementary school before he reverted
to Steph in high school.

17

THE EARLY DAYS
“I was working at Earnest and Julio Gallo Wines, and suddenly
things changed for the worse, and I knew it was time to
leave,” Pettit says. “A former teammate at BU asked me to
go in with him on a company (Clean Earth Systems) selling
boxes for hazardous waste. After a year, he wanted out,
figuring the business had only five years left in its life cycle
and wasn’t a million-dollar idea. We’re nearing our 30th
year, so I made the right call staying with it. Not bad for a
poor kid from Jersey.”
Early on, Pettit’s sales skills saved Clean Earth.
“My first year, I knew nothing about environmental products,”
Pettit says. “I was a sales guy and was good at it. By myself,
I sold $550,000 worth of products. I lacked real knowledge
of what I was selling, didn’t understand whom I was selling
to, or know much about the industry. Those first three or
four years, I had just one item on our inventory list. Now
our product line features 200 plus packages.
“When I look back, I’ve been fortunate that I made all the
right moves,” continues Pettit. “Educated guesses paid off.
But my luckiest break was that none of the companies
buying our product failed. If they did, we would have gone
under, too.”
GROWING THE BUSINESS
A company selling just one item has the life span of a
snowball on the equator. Steph knew his product line
had to expand for Clean Earth to endure and grow.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

“I’m left brain, right brain,” says Steph. “There’s the analytical
side and then my creative side. If I walk into a room and see
a package, my brain immediately begins wondering can I
make that into a hazardous waste container.”

18

As his staff reaches the office, Pettit goes in the opposite
direction to a workout facility a few blocks from the office
or to a quieter gym near his home. While walking into
either of the workout facilities, Steph greets everyone by
name and with a smile. Seamlessly he shares a story about
each person he sees.

“Exercise is my stress relief,” says Pettit speaking effortlessly
as he pounds away on a treadmill. “I never stopped working
“The first-ever corrugated hazmat drum was one of my
out after college. It’s not about having big muscles anybest inventions. It was so different from anything anyone
more. Now I stretch, use the treadmill
else had done,” Pettit continues. “It
to build endurance and speed, and
took eight years of off-and-on work to
I’ve never seen anyone
use weights for toning my muscles. I
perfect it. We then had to get the U.S.
also dropped some weight going from
live life to the fullest like
Department of Transportation to apa high of 240 pounds when I played
prove it. The approval came six months
he
does.
He
may
have
nice
football at BU down to a range of 195
before the Ebola outbreak hit. We were
to 205.”
the only company with this kind of
things, but he is simple,
“Per week, I work out four to six times
product, so the timing was perfect.
down to earth, and will
and will play two days of hockey,” says
Our plant in Tennessee couldn’t make
Pettit. “I’m in the Over-50 league now
the containers fast enough. I, and
go out of his way to help
since some of the young guys take
some of our team members from here,
things a bit too seriously. They don’t
went there to help. It was a crazy time.”
someone less fortunate.
realize I have to go to work the next day.”
STRESS RELIEF

His story is the true
American dream story.

After a 60- to 90-minute workout,
he’s in his SUV for the short drive
Owning and operating a business is
home to clean up, then back to the
never easy. During a pandemic, the
— CATHY MOORE
office by 11 a.m. While the compastresses multiply by a factor of a hundred.
ny could function without his direct
An outlet for that stress is essential.
guidance, he stays on top of what’s
“I am in the office by 4:30 a.m. and go work out by 8 or
happening. This day a meeting with representatives
8:30 a.m.,” says Pettit. “I can accomplish as much in four
of International Paper highlights his morning schedule.
hours as I would in five or six during the day because the
Supply chain and transportation issues at a facility in Virginia
phone is not ringing, no one is sending follow-up emails,
are snarling production. By the close of the hour-long meeting,
or needing to speak with me,” says Pettit.
everyone is satisfied that the issues can be overcome.

IN THREE WORDS

He’s described as giving, loving,
and kind, again and again,
starting with his wife and
moving on to his daughter,
employees, longtime friends,
and even business associates.
Allie, whose love for her
husband can be seen in
her face as she talks,
never met anyone like him.
“He is the most gregarious,
loving, and giving human being I have ever met in my life,” says
Allie. “He will give you the shirt off his back. And I think it goes
back to his childhood and the way that he was raised. He feels
that he needs to give back to other people. And I think that’s
just remarkable. Not enough people do that. He has impacted
and changed people’s lives.”
His daughter Ashley had difficulty settling on how to
describe her father in three words.
“Humanitarian is the first thing that comes to mind,” says
Ashley. “Also, amazing and awesome. There are so many
adjectives to describe him, but the one thing that can sum
it up altogether would be that he’s the ultimate humanitarian.
What he does as a father, a husband, a son for his family
is above and beyond good. And then what he does for
Bloomsburg students is just amazing.”

Allie’s parents, Howard and Cathy
Moore, like the “funny” Steph. “He
calls me ‘Princess’ and I call him
‘muscles,’” says Cathy. “His sense of
humor is amazing. He is not afraid to
poke fun at himself, which not many
people are able to do.”
And it isn’t just family that sings Steph’s
praises. Amy Chapman started at
Clean Earth 10 years ago and has
worked her way up to vice president
of the company.
“When I moved to Tampa for the job, I had no family here
and knew only one person,” says Chapman. “Steph is very
generous, and if you need anything, he’ll make it happen. I
call him ‘Papa Steph’ because he’s been that kind of person
when my dad isn’t around. He is that person that will help
people no matter what.”
Friend and business associate Gary Peters, owner of Peters
Packaging, has known Pettit for more than 20 years as a
manufacturing representative for Clean Earth. “First and
foremost, generous, and not just in terms of money,” says
Peters. He’s generous with opportunities, with his resources,
with the things he’s been blessed with, and that’s just such
an extension of him.”
“The second way to describe Steph is how driven he is because
he’s really a force of will, determined to be successful. He
also wants others to succeed and fulfill their dreams. He is
determined to keep moving forward in his life and to bring
people along with him.”

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

Can you describe someone in just three
words? This task is more difficult than
anticipated for Pettit’s wife, daughter,
employees, longtime friends,
and business associates.

19

Longtime employees Diana Holzhauer,
company president, along with Jenna
Cameron, Beth Carey Silverman, and
Alli Turner, all regional managers, total
more than 90 years of combined service
with the company. They describe
Steph in a slightly different way.
“He’s the Energizer bunny. He never
stops. It’s mental. It’s like his diet. He’s
extremely structured. Very routineoriented,” says Holzhauer. “He’s
regimented even when he goes away.
I think he eats the same lunch every
day. He is the most routine-driven
personality I know.”
“He’s also very loyal,” says Carey
Silverman. “He has given a lot of
people, an opportunity that a big
corporate company wouldn’t
necessarily do if they didn’t have
certain credentials on paper.”
“Steph is charismatic, kind, and the
most giving person I have ever met,”
says Kourtney Thompson, sales
representative for radio station 97X
in Tampa, where Steph’s company is

a sponsor. “Plus, he is all about the
community and giving back to others.”
“He’s completely engaging and makes
you feel like he has known you your
entire life,” says Jenna Kesneck Pulido,
assistant director of branding and
programming at 97X. “His passion and
work ethic are characteristics that I
have admired since the day I met him
10 years ago.”
“He wants others to succeed and
wants to help other people fulfill their
dreams,” Peters says. “And so, to see
him feel a sense of pride or sense of
accomplishment that was rewarding
to see as his friend, as somebody that
cares about him.”
IT’S NOT ABOUT STEPH
Being the center of attention is a natural
high for some individuals, terrifying for
others. Crowds can turn the most
engaging person inward. Steph, though,
relishes the chance to work a room.
Not for the attention, but to give the

focus to someone else.
“When he walks in a room, he lights
it up,” his wife remarks. “Everybody
smiles. He can make anybody laugh.
At the drop of a hat, he will say something
that can brighten somebody’s day. And
I find that to be great quality.”
Alli Turner from Clean Earth says, “He’s
really good about checking out a room
when he goes out, zeroing in on
something and bringing people to talk
nonstop about their life. Amazing how
he does that. I mean, he’ll work the
room and make them feel good about
themselves. It’s a gift.”
“He’s humble. He doesn’t try and seek
out anyone’s approval. He’s just himself
and is humble about it,” says Cameron.
“I’ve never seen anyone live life to the
fullest like he does,” says Cathy Moore.
“He may have nice things, but he is
simple, down to earth, and will go
out of his way to help someone
less fortunate. His story is the true
American dream story.”

MUSIC
If you didn’t know Steph, you could easily confuse him as a
rock and roll artist with his tattoo-sleeved arms. One arm is
dedicated to music, the other to sports. Walking into what
will be his music room, you’ll find a wall of more than 80
guitars facing you.
“Everyone in my house is or was musical, including my mother,”
says Pettit. “It was a big part of who I was as a child.”

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

Reconnecting with that part of his life years ago, he does
have a favorite among his extensive collection. “My Gibson
Les Paul, Custom Sunburst is my favorite,” says Steph. “It is
the first guitar I purchased when I decided to start playing
again about 15 years ago. It is the same model that Slash
from Guns N‘ Roses plays.”

20

That passion for music has also unknowingly benefited the
Tampa region. For the past 20 years, 97X has hosted a twoday alternative music festival, the Next Big Event, in early
December. In 2021, Twenty One Pilots and Weezer headlined
the shows. Clean Earth Systems has been the festival’s title
sponsor for 10 of the 20 years.
Bryan Kelly, sales manager from 97X, says, “Steph’s sponsorship
of our event is built from who he is as an individual ... passionate
and giving. This event for our region is only possible through
his and Clean Earth’s support. He is very passionate about
music. The look on his face watching the performances is
the same as those who have purchased tickets. It defines
who he is as a person and how he can help.”

LAUNDRY KING
Nearly everyone keeps something about themselves close to the
vest, Pettit included. But his wife says parts of Steph that people
don’t know make him uncommon.
“He loves to go out and have fun, but he’s a homebody deep
down,” Allie says. “We can stay at home together for 48, 72 hours
and sit outside, play Monopoly, do a puzzle, or work around the
house. It’s ‘our time.’”
“He’ll help me with anything. If I want to bake or cook, he is hands-on
in the kitchen,” she continues. “If we are making dinner, he’ll do
the dishes. And, this is funny when I tell people, but Steph loves the
laundry room. Steph is my laundry king! He does all the laundry.”
And according to Pettit’s in-laws, when he retires, they know
where he could stay busy. “He needs to work in a laundromat.
He folds clothes like he is in the military. Very meticulous.”
While dating, Pettit went old-school before proposing.
“Steph asked our son Nicholas for Allie’s hand in marriage since we
were out of the country,” said Howard Moore. “That’s not done
much these days.”
Daughter Ashley says sports have always kept her and her dad
close. “Growing up, it was all about sports, and I played pretty
much every sport, every weekend. We were all doing a new sport,”
Ashley says. “Our favorite sport, hard to believe here in Florida,
was ice hockey. He also loves chess. I’ve never beaten him in a
game yet, but I’m getting better, and one day, I’ll win a match.”
While eating healthy is a priority for Pettit, he does have a weakness …
snacks. In his office are boxes of candy, chips, popcorn, and other
assorted goodies. At home, well, let’s say there’s more.
“Steph has a whole cabinet of snacks,” says Allie. “I couldn’t believe
it when he showed me the snacks. He loves popcorn. You’d never
know looking at him that he eats food like this, but he does.”
When the TV comes on in the Pettit household, it’s not a business
news channel on the screen. No, you’ll find the couple watching
Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Zoolander, The Sopranos, and the
Simpsons. Pettit even had a cameo in the Zach Braff movie “Wish
You Were Here” playing a science teacher.
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?

“We will continue to invent containers and expand our product
lines and locations,” says Pettit. “Ten years from now, I would like
to semi-retire. I love what I do, and I can’t imagine ever selling out
or wanting to no longer come to work. Maybe I’ll work just three
days a week instead of six or seven.”
More than 25 years ago as Clean Earth was settling into a new
office, a handwritten sign was left behind by the previous tenants.
Steph adapted the words as his company’s motto. It reads:
‘A business succeeds, not because it is big or because it is
long-established, but because there are people in it who live
it, sleep it, dream it and build future plans for it every day!’
No truer words have ever described this uncommon man.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

Today, Clean Earth Systems employs nearly 25 people in the
Tampa office, with about 75 more at its warehouses around the
country. But like all good CEOs, Pettit keeps an eye on the future.

21

See Steph Pettit’s
dedication video.

By Tom McGuire

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

During the Fall 2021 Homecoming celebration, BU recognized
a $10 million gift from Steph Pettit ’89, by renaming the
upper campus the Pettit Athletic Complex.

22

“We are overjoyed to be here today, celebrating this moment,”
said BU President Bashar Hanna. “Steph’s overwhelming
commitment to supporting student-athletes is something
we celebrate every day. His transformational gifts over the
years have positively impacted hundreds of students – and
their families – and changed their lives for generations to
come. I can’t think of a better time to celebrate Steph Pettit
than with so many alumni and members of the BU family
who have returned this weekend for Homecoming.”
The university initially announced Pettit’s most recent gift
in December 2019. The gift made Pettit the largest donor in
BU’s history, bringing his total contributions to more than $12.5
million. The celebration and unveiling of the Pettit Athletic
Complex were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“My goal is to elevate the athletic program at BU by giving the
coaches the resources needed to recruit student-athletes
from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and beyond with stronger

academic and athletic profiles,” said Pettit. “Competition
is fierce in the world of intercollegiate athletics, and our
coaches need more scholarship money to compete at the
highest levels. I am honored to be able to make this gift and
support their efforts to compete for championships at the
conference level and be competitive on a national level.”
For Pettit, giving back to his alma mater has always been a
priority. In 2010 he co-chaired the First & Goal Campaign,
the largest fundraising campaign in the history of Huskies
football as well as establishing the SP-59 annual football
scholarship, the Under Armour Football sponsorship, and
the Steph Pettit Legacy Scholarship.
Pettit has also supported athletics with a $1 million contribution
that endowed scholarships, christened the Steph Pettit
Stadium, and honored classmates with the Sully and Bubs
Pavilion. In 2017, Pettit, who was a mass communications
major, established a gift to fund learning opportunities
through a production company within the Department of
Media and Journalism that features documentary and longform video projects.

HUSKY NOTES

Noble Quandel ’69 was reappointed to
the Schuylkill County Airport Authority
by the Schuylkill County Commissioners.

Ronald White ’82 was named senior
community director of Associa MidAtlantic, based in King of Prussia. White
has 10 years of experience in community
association management and additional
experience as a business owner and in
construction and real estate. Associa
provides homeowner association and
property management services.
Maxim Furek ’84 published his fifth
book, “Somebody Else’s Dream,” a history
of Northeastern Pennsylvanian rock
‘n’ roll examined through the lens of a
critical look at the Buoys’ song “Timothy.”

Alumni Ron Paci ’62, Charles Gelso
’63, and Edward Buck ’66 (shown from
left) held their annual reunion in Laurel,
Md. They had all lived in off-campus
housing at Main and Center streets.

70s
John Wolk ’70 is a supervisor of
student teachers at Widener University
in Chester. Previously, he taught in
Ridley School District for 23 years and
was assistant principal in the Upper
Darby School District for 15 years before
retiring in 2008.
James Berkheiser ’71 is teaching acting
at Sussex County Community College in
Newton, N.J. Berkheiser also founded the
North Star Theater Company and published
a book of poetry, “In Mercurial Days.”
Donato Nieman ’74 earned the 2021
AARP New Jersey Advocacy Award.
Nieman has been a volunteer and member
of AARP for many years before being
asked to join the New Jersey Statewide
Citizens Volunteer Committee. His work
focuses on controlling the price of
prescription drugs, and his testimony has
been given to members of the U.S.
House of Representatives, New Jersey
Delegation, and the New Jersey Legislature.

80s
Richard DiLiberto ’82, litigation partner
with Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor
LLP, was named vice chair of the board
of directors of MMI Preparatory School
in Freeland. DiLiberto has served on the
board since 2013.

Paul Kappel
Jr. ’89 has
been named
president and
CEO of Junior
Achievement of
Central Maryland
Inc., a nonprofit
organization
dedicated to
educating young
people to succeed in a rapidly changing
economy. Previously, Kappel served
as president of Junior Achievement
of Southeastern Pennsylvania from
2007-2021, where he increased
organizational revenue by 57 percent,
and managed a 21-member board
of directors consisting of some of
Philadelphia’s top companies such as
Bank of America, Wells Fargo, JP Morgan
Chase, PWC, KPMG, Ernst & Young,
and Truist. He was executive vice
president for Junior Achievement of
Greater Washington from 2003-2007
and started his JA career in 1997 with
Junior Achievement of Georgia. Kappel
received the Bloomsburg University Legacy
of Leadership Alumni Award in 2015.

90s
Barbara Rhone Davis ’94 earned her
doctorate in educational leadership from
Neumann University. Davis is the assistant
superintendent for the Eastern Lebanon
County School District.
Andrew Bradley ’96 is vice president of
sales and marketing for Tergus Pharma.
Bradley has over 21 years of life science
sales experience, during which he was
Patheon/Thermo Fisher’s director of
business development and Patheon’s
business development executive.
Paul Cutrufello ’98 was promoted
to professor of health and human
performance at the University of Scranton.

Tom Murray ’99,
co-founder of A
Path to Wellness
Integrative
Psychiatry,
Greensboro,
N.C., completed
the Goldman
Sachs 10,000
Small Business
(GS10KSB)
certification program in Entrepreneurship
in partnership with Babson College in
Wellesley, Mass. Over the course of 12
weeks culminating in December, Murray
learned from nationally recognized
experts in entrepreneurship. GS10KSB
provides an advanced business
curriculum for small business owners
to grow their business. A Path to
Wellness Integrative Psychiatry provides
innovative, socially just, and recoveryoriented mental wellness services,
psychotherapy, and relationship and
sex therapy.

00s
Yvonne Wenger ’02 has been appointed
director of community affairs by the
Archdiocese of Baltimore.
Daniel Malloy ’03 is superintendent
for the Weatherly Area School District,
appointed by unanimous vote of the
district’s board of education.
Andrew Venezia ’07 was named
associate professor of health and human
performance at the University of Scranton.
Jahri Evans ’07 will be inducted into
the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Class
of 2022 in June.

10s
Julia Murphy ’13 was named Cooperative
Educational Services’ (CES) 2022 Teacher of
the Year. CES is one of six regional
educational service centers in Connecticut.
Murphy has taught for seven years and
started teaching at CES during the 201819 school year in the Preschool-Primary
Learning Center in the special education
division. She is eligible for the 2022
Connecticut Teacher of the Year award.
David Croall ’15, an officer with the
Winston-Salem, N.C., police department,
was honored with the Life Saving Award
by his department for saving the life of a
man who was shot.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

60s

23

HUSKY NOTES
Melissa Matthews ’15 was named
project coordinator at SEDA-COG
Community Development program in
Lewisburg. Matthews brings over five
years of expertise in zoning, planning and
development and code enforcement to
the position. Prior employment included
serving Hemlock Township and the
Hemlock Municipal Sewer Cooperative.
Matthews holds a bachelor’s degree in
geography and planning from BU.
Geneka Mahan ’18 was promoted to
senior accountant at Boyer & Ritter LLC,
headquartered in Camp Hill.

MacKenna Mahan ’18 was promoted to
senior accountant at Boyer & Ritter LLC,
headquartered in Camp Hill.

20s
Ashli Venokur ’20, a teacher in New
Jersey’s East Brunswick School District, has
been a participant in the Special Olympics
Polar Bear Plunge in Seaside Heights for
the past 10 years and is scheduled to
participate again this year.

Geiger Retires
from First Nonprofit
Foundation
Joe Geiger ’74/’81M retired in
December as president and chief
executive officer of the First Nonprofit
Foundation after 48 years of service
in the education and not-for profit
industries.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

Geiger began his career as an
educator, teaching high school social
studies and continued his career
with Duquesne University, where he
taught in the graduate program for
leadership and business ethics. He
also served as the executive officer
for the Bloomsburg Area YMCA,
the Suburban East Shore YMCA, and
the Vanderbilt YMCA in New York
City. He returned to Pennsylvania to
run the Keystone State Head Injury
Foundation and The Pennsylvania
Association of Nonprofit Organizations.

24

SOCCER ALUMNI |

David Good ’80 and Bill Sypawka ’83 showed
their Husky spirit at the annual Beer City Cup Soccer tournament held in September
in Asheville, N.C. This year 107 teams from 14 states participated in the tournament.
Sypawka lives in Greenville, N.C., and plays for the Curmudgeons, and Good lives in
Atlanta, Ga., and plays for the Hammers. The two teams met in the finals of the O-58
division with the Hammers coming out on top, 3-1. Both played for the BU soccer
team in 1980. Sypawka still holds the record for most assists in one game. Both also
played for CB West HS and the CenBuco Soccer Club in Doylestown.

He served on the Bloomsburg
University Alumni Board from 1996
to 2001. Other boards he has served
on include: National Standards
for Excellence Board; Governor’s
Rehabilitation Advisory Committee;
the Civil Justice Coalition, and the
Board of Directors for the National
Head Injury Foundation, the American
Trauma Society — PA Division, and
on the FNICs boards for more than
25 years, acting as its chair for six years.
He has been inducted into the
Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit
Organizations Emeritus Society.
First Nonprofit provides state-compliant,
individually insured, cost-saving
options to satisfy State Unemployment
Insurance requirements for nonprofit,
governmental, and tribal entities.

HUSKY NOTES

In Memoriam
WALTER BLAIR
Football and Baseball Coach
Who Reestablished Wrestling
Walter Robert Blair, who served as a dean, coach and
professor at Bloomsburg from 1955 to 1966, passed away
Dec. 26 at age 97.
While at Bloomsburg, Blair served in many roles: dean of
men, director of athletics, head football and baseball coach,
chair of the health and physical education department, all
while teaching as an associate professor in physical and
biological sciences, psychology, history and education. He
also reestablished the wrestling program and coached the
team for two years. Members of the 1955-63 football teams
established the Walt Blair Endowed Football Scholarship at
BU in his honor. The scholarship has been awarded for 21
years and has benefited 11 different students.
Born in 1924 in Philadelphia, Blair was an outstanding high
school athlete, lettering in football, basketball and baseball,
and was inducted to the Northeast High School Wall of
Fame in Philadelphia.

He was assigned to the Eighth Armored Division, 49th
Armored Infantry Battalion, The Thundering Herd, and
served as a platoon leader in Europe. His unit participated
in the Battle of the Bulge and was present at Buchenwald
when the allies declared victory. At the war’s end, Camp
Polk awarded him with an outstanding U.S. Infantryman Award.
He completed his college education at West Chester University,
where he played varsity football and baseball. He earned
a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from
West Chester and a master’s degree in education from
Temple University. Following college, he held several

coaching positions, teaching and directing positions in
the Philadelphia area before coming to Bloomsburg.
After Bloomsburg, Blair joined the faculty at West Chester
University as associate dean of education and was the
founder and director of the WCU Career Development
Center. He was inducted into the W. Glenn Killinger West
Chester University Football Hall of Fame.
At the age of 95, Blair was still teaching and sharing his
World War II experiences as a docent at the New York State
Military Museum.
Blair was predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Gloria
Blechschmidt Blair. He is survived by five daughters: Debra
A. Blair, Donna Blair Adams, Justine Blair Carroll, Janet Blair
Franco, and Allison L. Blair; seven grandchildren, four great
grandchildren, and brothers Donald and Kenneth Blair.

Marriages
Stephanie (Debuski) Friedman ’12 & Max Friedman,
July 10, 2021
Stefanie (Bressi) Scott ’14 & Barrett Scott, Aug. 7, 2021
Peter Freda ’16 & Taylor (Williams) Freda ’17, Sept. 5, 2021

Births
David ’12 & Tracy (Stutzcage) Tomtishen, a daughter,
Claire Diane, Dec. 13, 2021
Kurt ’15 & Megan (Willie) Henrie, a son, Liam Charles,
Dec. 14, 2021
Caroline Douglass ’18 and Ian Stambaugh ’17 were married Sept. 24,
2021, in Blue Bell, Pa.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

In 1943, Blair enrolled at Temple University on a full athletic
scholarship. That same year, his education was interrupted
when he was inducted into the Army. During his training at
Camp Polk, he received the Honorary Doughboy Award.
He played baseball and football on the Camp Polk teams as
well as the A.I.B. Baseball squad for the duration of the war.

25

HUSKY NOTES

In Memoriam
CLAUDIA COOPER THRUSH
Vice President for Administration and Finance
The Bloomsburg University community suffered a tragic
loss with the passing of Claudia J. (Cooper) Thrush, 51, on
Jan. 17, 2022.
A BU employee for more than 23 years, starting as assistant
comptroller in 1998 and most recently as vice president of
finance and administration, Thrush’s professional acumen
and personal warmth inspired confidence on campus and
respect from peers across the state. She ensured BU has
remained fiscally secure, oversaw countless improvements
to the campus infrastructure, including the construction
of the Arts and Administration Building, and provided critical
leadership and support for the accreditation of the BU
Police Department.
Colleagues on campus are heartbroken at her passing,
and recalled her “leadership, mentorship, and ready smile.”
Peers at sibling institutions in State System recalled that
“we all looked forward to seeing her, chatting, and asking
her thoughts and advice.”
She was a member of the Wesley United Methodist
Church, Bloomsburg, and attended LCBC, Bloomsburg.
She attended Bloomsburg area grade schools, and
graduated from Bloomsburg High School in 1988. She
graduated from Bloomsburg University with a bachelor’s
degree in 1992 and Bucknell University with a master’s
degree in 1993.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Olivia A.
Thrush; and her father-in-law, Ken E. Thrush. Survivors

include her husband of 25 years, Arlie R. Thrush; her two
sons, Cooper A. Thrush and Zachary C. Thrush,
of Bloomsburg; her parents, Tommy L. and Sandy R.
Cooper, of Bloomsburg; a brother, Tom R. Cooper; two
brothers-in-law: K. Bryan Thrush and Keith A. Thrush
and wife Janie; four nieces, and three nephews.
Memorial contributions in Claudia’s name are suggested to:
American Cancer Society, c/o Columbia County Unit,
1948 E. Third St., Williamsport, PA 17701. Friends and family
wishing to send a memorial gift, share a personal memory or
offer condolences to the family, a Memorial Tribute Page in
her honor is available at www.Allen-FuneralHome.com.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

Obituaries

26

Mary Louise Fox Albano ’49
Eugene Warren Snyder ’49
Eugene Shipe ’50
Genevieve Scheetz Hosier ’51
Christine Kreamer Wells ’51
Mary Ellen Bartholomew ’53
Donald McClintock ’53
Mary Kubic Linkchorst ’55
Marian Walsh Chruney ’56
Joanne Hester Gentry ’56
Charles Thomas ’57
Robert Ridgway ’58
Larry Fisher ’59
Janet Bittenbender Fritz ’59
Carole Coolbaugh Foster ’61
Alexandria Galli Gronka ’61
Connie Jane Dietterick Paul ’61
Sandra Greider Swanson ’61
Hope Wingate Martin ’62

Vincent Raupers ’62
Jean O’Donnell Reinhart ’62
Gail Schively Ottenheimer ’64
Edgar Ewing ’65
Wayne Eddowes ’66
Connie Dorscheid McMichael ’66
Violet Mae Kratzer Klinger ’67
Arthur Pentz ’67
Janice Bowman ’69
Bart Giacometti ’69
Austin Greenland ’69
Kathleen Horst Kuzmiak ’69
Anthony Pirraglia ’69
Judith Henry Spence ’69
Thomas Zukovich ’69
Edward Jackson ’70
James Canterbury ’71
Nancy Grodzinski Hickey ’71
Claire Karpowich ’71

Russel Scheuren ’71
Noreen Tatusko Schwalm ’71
Diana Braganini Statsman ’71
John Gildea ’72
Ronald Inkrote ’72
Gerald Staivisky ’72
Stephen Tellep ’72
Glenn Welker ’72
Ruth Dietz Fullerton Deppen ’73
Robert Griffin ’73
Graydon Gulliver ’73
Paul Mullock ’73
Stephen Berrigan ’74
Edward Parsons ’74
John Steinhart ’75
John Diblasi ’79
Jack Shultz ’79
Timothy Barrett ’80
Warren Rozelle ’80

John Gelety ’81
Donna Polak Zimmerman ’83
Jennifer Boore Paul ’84
Kerry Reidinger ’86
Rhonda Noble Bauer ’87
Darla Watts Flick ’87
Pauline Kmiecinski Roberts ’87
Leslie Newman Kiess ’88
Michael Shannon ’89
Thomas Graham ’90
Danielle Derr ’92
L. G. Scott Felty ’94
Billie Jo Hack
Matelevich-Hoang ’95
Victoria Harrison Kidd ’98
Keith Berezwick ’03
Casey Lachenmayer ’03
Connor Welch ’17

Send information to: magazine@bloomu.edu
Bloomsburg: The University Magazine | Arts and Administration Building | 400 E. Second Street | Bloomsburg, PA 17815-1301

sports

VIEW FROM THE TOP

Women’s Soccer Repeats as PSAC Champs
By Mary Raskob

The Huskies captured the PSAC trophy
with three shutout victories in six days
at Steph Pettit Stadium and secured
a return trip to the NCAA Division II
Soccer Tournament.
After winning back-to-back NCAA Atlantic
Regional titles in 2018 and 2019, the 2020
veteran-laden BU women’s soccer
team was poised to make another try
at glory until its season was shuttered
by the COVID-19 pandemic. Fast
forward to 2021 when the Huskies,
now with a roster full of inexperienced
players, would soon shock even their
most ardent fans.
“As we prepared to report for preseason
camp in the fall, there was some
trepidation within the team,” says head
coach Matt Haney. “We had not played
in forever, and we had suddenly become
a very young and inexperienced team.
We knew it was sink or swim, and true
to our culture, we swam.”
The Huskies opened the season with a
6-1 win over Goldey-Beacom. The
Huskies began the season 1-0 for the
fourth-straight year and looked to pick
up where they left off two seasons ago
despite a very young roster. However, the

promising start was overshadowed by
a critical injury in the preseason and
another during the second match of the
season. The Huskies opened their
PSAC schedule 1-1-1 and needed to
find their new identity.
“It was an uneven start, with two major
injuries and a couple of others mixed
in, but we banded together and went
with the next person up mentality and
saw many people enhance their roles
within the team,” says Haney.

The Huskies quickly found that identity
and won three-straight contests without
giving up a goal. Bloomsburg ran into
a tough Kutztown team that halted
its win streak, but a 1-0 win over rival
West Chester University kicked off a
new streak – this time six-straight, and
the Huskies allowed just one goal over
540 minutes of soccer. Bloomsburg
closed out the regular season 12-5-2
and clinched the No. 2 seed in the
PSAC Tournament.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Fall 2021

Defense proved prophetic in BU’s
march to the Pennsylvania State
Athletic Conference women’s soccer
championship this fall.

27

sports

VIEW FROM THE TOP

They had a home game for the first
round but needed an upset in the other
quarterfinal to host championship
weekend. The Huskies got that upset as
Kutztown fell to Millersville in penalty
kicks and the semifinals and championship match made their way to
Bloomsburg and Steph Pettit Stadium.
The Huskies rose to the occasion and
relied on the staunch defense that got
them to that point. Bloomsburg won
three straight games in the tournament,
all shutout victories, on its way to the
PSAC Title. The Huskies allowed just
11 shots in the three games, including
two shots on goal in their 1-0 win for
the conference title.
The Huskies’ run in the NCAA tournament
came to an untimely end as they fell
in the second round to Concord
University. Still, the accomplishments
of the year and the last four years were
not overshadowed by the loss.
The Huskies finished the season with
the 13th-best goals-against average
in NCAA DII after allowing just 13 goals
in 23 games. Opponents took just
5.9 shots per game for the season
and just 2.8 shots on goal per game.

Bloomsburg finished the season
16-5-2 and received votes in the
national coach’s poll.
“Winning our second PSAC championship in three years was a fantastic
accomplishment and something that
made us proud. This senior class leaves

as decorated soccer players – two
regular season PSAC championships,
two PSAC Tournament championships,
and two NCAA Atlantic Region
championships. But most importantly,
all are graduating on time and preparing
for the next step in their lives,” says Haney.

WINNING THE

Right Way

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

The women’s soccer team did more than
win matches in 2021. They won while
exemplifying great sportsmanship. The
United Soccer Coaches recognized the
team with the 2021 Team Ethics and
Sportsmanship Bronze Award for the
second straight season.

28

The Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Award
was created to recognize teams that exhibit
fair play, sporting behavior, and adherence
to the laws of the game. A team must not
have received any red cards during the
season – regular season or postseason –
and the team’s yellow card percentage
(total yellow cards divided by total games
played) must not exceed 50 percent.
A total of 112 institutions across all divisions
in the country earned a Team Ethics and
Sportsmanship Award (platinum, gold, silver,
bronze) with the Huskies being the only
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference team
to claim the honor.

sports

VIEW FROM THE TOP

MAKING THE MOVE

From Player to Official
By Tom McGuire
Recent BU Athletic Hall of Fame
inductee Jeff Benson has taken his
passion for basketball and channeled
it into officiating at the NCAA Division
I level.

Officials are just like players who never
want to miss a shot, he says. “The
toughest part mentally is not getting a
call correct. No official ever wants to
miss a call.”

Benson, now in his eighth season
officiating, is in his seventh year of
working as an official for the Mountain
West and Big West conferences as well
as a few NCAA Divison II conferences.

Officiating in the women’s game is
something Benson also enjoys.

“My journey to becoming an official
started when I was asked by the director
of an AAU program I was coaching in
if I ever thought about putting on the
striped shirt,” said Benson. “At first, I
said no. But once I learned there is a
science to the job and the officials are
not out there just doing anything they
want, I was immediately drawn to it.”
“Being an official is also extremely
competitive,” Benson continued. “You
have to be in the right place and have
the temperament to make the tough
calls when needed.”

“Contrary to what most people think,
there are rules that differ between the
men’s and women’s college games.
I love and respect college basketball,
period, but I am proudly a Division I
women’s college basketball official
and will never change.”
And while being an official can be
stressful, occasionally, he and a coach
will exchange words that make each
of them chuckle.
“Once, I had a coach tell me that we
(the officiating crew) had a bad night,”
Benson remarked. “I told him ‘well that
makes two teams that did a poor job
tonight’ and walked away.”

‘Protect Our Pack’ Recognized

“Protect Our Pack” was formed in
September 2020 to bring awareness
to current social justice topics and
help students find assistance to
overcome challenges they may face

related to bullying, racism, LGBTQA,
and gender issues.
BU was chosen as the official entry
from the Pennsylvania State Athletic
Conference (PSAC) and is joined by
Shippensburg University on the
finalist list. Shippensburg’s “ONESHIP”
initiative was chosen as one of the
seven at-large honorees.
Division II honors its members each
year for conducting events that
promote student-athletes giving back
and serving as leaders within their
communities or on their campuses. A
committee of athletics administrators
determined this year’s finalists.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Fall 2021

The BU athletic department was
selected as one of the 28 finalists for
the 2022 NCAA Division II Award of
Excellence for its “Protect Our Pack”
student leader group. The NCAA
Division II Award of Excellence
recognizes “initiatives in the past year
that exemplify the Division II philosophy,
community engagement, and studentathlete leadership.” Each finalist received
$500 intended for future SAAC initiatives
or community engagement events.

29

sports

VIEW FROM THE TOP

Andy Cappelli, Michael Barnhart, Kate
(Denneny) Peckham, Susan (Boyd) Flanders,
Jeff Benson, Michele (Ruzicka) Lamb,
Danny Hale, Diana Rodgers-Atkinson,
provost and senior vice president, and
Michael McFarland, director of athletics.

Wrestling League placewinner, and
a three-time NCAA qualifier. He also
served as the president of the Delta
Omega Chi fraternity and credits his
time as a Bloomsburg wrestler and as
president of his fraternity for helping
him learn with a lot of people from
different walks of life.

Forever Remembered
Seven Inducted into Athletic Hall of Fame

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

When a student-athlete or coach
earns selection into a hall of fame,
that individual is considered among
the best of the best. For Bloomsburg
University, Michael Barnhart ’70
(football) , Jeff Benson ’99 (men’s
basketball), Susan Boyer Flanders ’84
(women’s swimming), Andy Cappelli ’80
(wrestling), Kate Denneny Peckham ’87
(field hockey/softball), Michele Ruzicka
Lamb ’99 (women’s basketball), and
Danny Hale ’01(H) (football coach)
were bestowed that recognition after
enshrinement in the BU Athletic Hall
of Fame last October.

30

Barnhart was a four-year member of the
Bloomsburg State College football team
from 1966-69, starting every game of his
collegiate career at middle linebacker.
“My father told me, if I wanted to excel
in any sport, I need to practice, practice,
practice. More importantly, I need to
give more than 100 percent. That was
my first challenge”.

McFarland Named
to Division II Board
Michael McFarland, director of
athletics, has been selected to serve
on the Division 2 Athletics Directors
Association Board of Directors.

Benson was a two-year standout for
the Huskies men’s basketball team. He
credits his mother with the push he
needed to call Bloomsburg’s coach at
the time, Charlie Chronister, and commit
to Bloomsburg. He is 28th all-time at
BU with 1,025 career points despite
playing only two seasons.
(Boyer) Flanders was a four-year standout on the women’s swimming team.
Boyer earned 10 All-America accolades
during her decorated collegiate career
and won a pair of PSAC titles, with both
coming during the 1981-82 season. She
went on to coach numerous swimmers
through different club teams and had
several of her swimmers continue their
careers at Bloomsburg.
Cappelli enjoyed a sensational four-year
career on the mat for Bloomsburg
wrestling posting an overall record of
109-32-4. Cappelli was a three-time
PSAC champion, a three-time Eastern

McFarland is in his 11th year leading
the Huskies athletic department. The
chair of the Department of Athletics
faculty, McFarland was promoted to
associate professor. In addition to his
athletic department leadership duties,
McFarland serves as a member of the
President’s Leadership Council and
also serves the university academic
community as a member of the
General Education Council, Curriculum

(Denneny) Peckham was a four-year
starter on both the field hockey and
softball teams and was a highly
decorated student-athlete while
competing for both programs. She
married a fellow Bloomsburg studentathlete, Edward Peckham, a two-year
captain for the men’s soccer team.
The two have watched and cheered
their children on at the highest level,
just as she fondly remembers her
parents doing during her career.
(Ruzicka) Lamb had a sensational fouryear career on the Huskies’ women’s
basketball team. Ruzicka was named
the PSAC Eastern Division Athlete of the
Year following the 1997-98 campaign
and also earned Second Team All-Region
honors from Daktronics and two-straight
First Team All-PSAC East laurels.
Hale, one of Division II’s winningest
coaches, spent 20 seasons as the head
coach of the Huskies football team and
25 years overall as a head coach. At BU,
he posted a record of 173-56-1 (.754),
while overall, in 25 years as a head
coach, he had a mark of 213-69-1 (.754).
Hale led the Huskies to 11 outright or
shared PSAC Eastern Division titles,
eight NCAA postseason playoff berths
and were national runner-ups in 2000.

Committee chair for Student Affairs,
and as a co-chair for a Middle States
Commission on Higher Education
sub-working group.
The Division 2 Athletics Directors
Association Board of Directors is
administered by the National Association
of Collegiate Directors of Athletics
(NACDA), which is in its 57th year.

celebrating our Husky history

THEN & NOW

President Harvey
Andruss and Dean of
Instruction John Hoch
removing “teachers”
from the Bloomsburg
State College sign,
January 8, 1960.

BU: The Evolution to a University
By Robert Dunkelberger

With the completion of what is now
Carver Hall and the Institute being
named a State Normal School for
teacher instruction in 1869, the
stability the community craved was
finally achieved. Change continued
in 1916 when the Normal School was
purchased by the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, as were the other
13 schools around the state.

While the Normal School’s primary
degree was a two-year teacher’s certificate, the goal of the Commonwealth
was to create a four-year degree
program. For Bloomsburg, this
occurred in 1926 when the school
was given the authority to offer a
Bachelor of Science in Education.
The following May, the name of
the institution was changed to the
Bloomsburg State Teachers College.

“When you are finished
changing, you are finished.”
— Benjamin Franklin
All of the newly-named colleges
were under the State Department of
Education and operated both
independently and in coordination,
especially with a focus on specific
disciplines. Majors were to be offered
only at certain schools, geographically
spread throughout the state. This took
place during the 1930s, and for
Bloomsburg, the two areas of
specialization were in business,
which began in 1930, and five years
later, special education.

The programs offered by the college
stayed relatively stable for more than
30 years until 1960, when the next
phase of growth began. On January 8
of that year, all of the former state
teachers colleges were elevated to
state colleges and could grant graduate
degrees. At first, these were only in
education, as were the bachelor’s
degrees, but by the end of the decade
expanded to other disciplines.
Now colleges, the ultimate goal for
the former normal schools was to
complete the process to become
universities. This occurred much
sooner for one of the colleges. Indiana
was a model for what could be
achieved and was named a university
by an act of the legislature in 1965.
Bloomsburg State College continued
to grow up to the early 1980s in terms
of enrollment, course offerings, and
programs, while schools had been
formed to organize the academic
departments. This was when the last
major change occurred in Bloomsburg’s
evolution.
In 1982, after eight years of debate on
differing proposals, the legislature passed
a bill to take the state colleges and

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

On July 1, 2023, it will be
40 years since Bloomsburg
State College became a
university. It was just another
step in the evolutionary
process of higher education
in the town since an Academy
was started in 1839.
Although the Academy was
not stable nor continuously
in operation, this situation
ended when Henry Carver
opened the Bloomsburg
Literary Institute in 1866.

31

celebrating our Husky history

THEN & NOW

BU’s Evolution
to a University

President James McCormick in the fall of 1982 with the first Bloomsburg University t-shirt.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

Indiana from the Department of
Education and create an independent
system of higher education. It was
known as Act 188 and signed into
law by Gov. Dick Thornburgh on
November 12. One essential aspect
of the law was that all educational
institutions in the system would now
be universities and, through Indiana,
grant doctoral degrees.

32

With Bloomsburg becoming a university as of July 1, 1983, the various
schools became colleges, with the
first ones being Arts and Sciences,
Business, and Professional Studies.
The most significant adjustment to
make was that Bloomsburg was losing
its president, James McCormick.
Hired in 1973, he had spent the
preceding decade positioning the
college to become a university,
developing it into a multi-purpose
institution with diverse graduate and
undergraduate programs.

His success at Bloomsburg caught
the attention of the system’s newlynamed Board of Governors, and on
June 6, 1983, he was named the first
chancellor. The appointment was
intended to be temporary until a
permanent individual was named to
the position, and McCormick intended to return to Bloomsburg. However,
McCormick excelled in the role, the
appointment became permanent, and
McCormick remained as chancellor
until leaving to head the Minnesota
state system in 2001.
The newly-minted Bloomsburg
University of Pennsylvania celebrated
its status with a convocation to begin
the fall semester on September 11.
It was a time of pomp and ceremony
as a new era was starting for the former
literary Institute of more than a
century before. Now, nearly 40 years
later, the integration of universities
within the system is opening up a new
chapter in Bloomsburg’s evolution.

1839

Bloomsburg
Academy

1856

Bloomsburg
Literary Institute

1869

Bloomsburg
Literary Institute
and State
Normal School

1927

Bloomsburg State
Teachers College

1960

Bloomsburg
State College

1983

Bloomsburg
University of
Pennsylvania

Y
D
A
E
R
FOR
G
N
I
R
SP
celebrating our Husky history

THEN & NOW

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Winter 2022

Get ready for spring at the University
Store. Now in stock are high-quality caps
embroidered in Pennsylvania just in time
for softball and baseball. Show your
Husky spirit with a sweatshirt, T-shirt,
picnic gear, and even home decor.

shop in-person or online
400 E. Second Street
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
General Information: 570-389-4175
Customer Service: 570-389-4180
bustore@bloomu.edu

bloomustore.com
Pictured is Kayla Dzomic, a first-year finance major from Danielsville.

33

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Arts and Administration Building
Bloomsburg University
400 E. Second St.
Bloomsburg, PA 17815-1301

1011050113

HUSKY
STORIES
Students and alumni talk about their own
unique academic climb in their words.
Hear first-generation business student
Nicole Stickel, football player Brandon Gill,
and Marine Corps veteran Jared Stump share
their experiences of how BU opened doors and
created opportunities for them

bloomu.edu/husky-stories
A NOTE TO PARENTS

WANT TO UNSUBSCRIBE?

RECEIVING DUPLICATE COPIES?

If this issue of Bloomsburg: The
University Magazine is addressed
to a daughter or son who has
established a separate residence,
please notify us of that new
address by sending an email to:
magazine@bloomu.edu

If you no longer wish to
receive the print edition of the
magazine, please notify us by
sending an email to:
magazine@bloomu.edu

If you are receiving more than one copy of
Bloomsburg: The University Magazine, please forward
the mailing label panel from each issue you receive to:
Bloomsburg: The University Magazine
Arts and Administration Building
400 E. Second Street
Bloomsburg, PA 17815-1301

SUMME R 20 22

ALSO INSIDE

Indomitable

Professional U Opens Doors for
Student Success & Alumni Engagement

Page 10

Page 14

Recognizing
Husky Leaders
Alumni Association
Honors Huskies
Who Have Excelled
Page 18

bloomu.edu

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Summer 2022

Ready for the
Next Step

Sean Sears Recovers
from Injuries
to Graduate

1

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Dear BU Family,
Please enjoy the Summer 2022 edition of
Bloomsburg: The University Magazine.
It was wonderful to host our commencement
ceremonies in-person with a full stadium of
graduates and their families. To see the joy on the
faces of our students as they walked across the
stage at Redman Stadium was gratifying. For most
graduates, this was by far the biggest day of their
lives and one they will not soon forget. I commend
our graduates for their hard work, as well as our
faculty and staff for the dedication and commitment
they make each day in helping our students go
beyond their limits to reach their goals.
At this year’s commencement, we honored two
very good friends of BU, Kerby Confer and Ronn
Cort, with honorary Doctor of Commercial
Science degrees. Both men delivered timely
remarks with impactful messages for our graduates.
I also had the honor of recognizing two graduating
seniors for some big accomplishments. Sean Sears
President Bashar Hanna with graduate Sean Sears
was seriously injured in October 2020 when a
motorcycle struck him. With grit and determination,
he proved doctors wrong by not only walking again, but coming back to BU and completing his senior year. He is
truly an inspiration for “never giving up” and working to achieve his dream of being a college graduate. Another unique
and remarkable story is Max Norfolk. Max earned his college degree before graduating from high school after
starting in our Advanced College Experience program as a seventh grader. Congratulations to Max and all the
members of the Class of 2022!
In this issue of our magazine, you’ll get to know Craig Diehl ’82, the man behind the Diehl Center for Law School
Preparation. You’ll also read about how BU’s Professional U program is turning our graduates into prepared
professionals. This unique difference-making initiative continues to grow and expand the opportunities for our
students to land jobs.
Also, be sure to read the profiles of our 2022 Alumni Association Award winners. These inspiring stories show the
onward and upward that a BU degree brings. Finally, read about the latest in the integration process.
As always, I thank you for your continued support of BU, and I look forward to seeing you back on campus this fall.
Have a safe and enjoyable summer with your family and friends.

Go Huskies!
Sincerely,
Bashar W. Hanna, President

and photos on Facebook of the student
groups that had worked at their homes.

More than 1,200 student volunteers
turned out on the crisp morning to visit
more than 100 locations across the
Town of Bloomsburg to help residents
get their yards ready for spring.
After the event, which is funded, created,
and planned by the Community Government Association (CGA), numerous
community residents shared thanks

Kathy and Bruce Musser shared their
thanks through a letter to the Press
Enterprise newspaper.
“Living in a college town, sometimes we
hear negative comments concerning the
University. Counter that with things like
the Big Event, lectures, concerts, sports
programs, art exhibits, etc., as well as
employment and cultural stimulation.
College towns are special.”

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Summer 2022

After a two-year absence, Bloomsburg’s
Big Event came back in big style on
Saturday, April 2.

“Not only did they work hard cleaning
up, but they also indulged me in lovely
conversation during their lunch break,”
wrote resident Heather Hyatt. “From IT
to communication studies, these five
were from the Honors College and are
the faces of our future. I thank them for
their hard work and wish them all the
very best and brightest future! Thank you!”

1

Summer 2022

8

10

14

16

27

29

Contents
16

4 AROUND THE QUAD

COMMENCEMENT SPEAKERS HONORED

7 $1 MILLION GIFT TO BOOST HONORS COLLEGE

AS NEW HUSKIES
18

RECOGNIZING HUSKY LEADERS

10 READY FOR THE NEXT STEP

22

HUSKY NOTES

14 SEAN SEARS COMES BACK FROM INJURY

27

A TRAINER TO CHAMPIONS

31

A GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY FOR NELSON FIELD HOUSE

8 SATISFYING THE NEED TO HELP

TO GRADUATE

Connect with us

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Summer 2022

bloomu.edu

2

Pennsylvania’s State System
of Higher Education
Board of Governors
Cynthia D. Shapira, Chair
David M. Maser, Vice Chair
Samuel H. Smith, Vice Chair
Robert W. Bogle
Representative Tim Briggs
Tanya I. Garcia, Designee for
Secretary of Education
William “Bill” Gindlesperger
Allison Jones, Designee for
Governor Tom Wolf
Senator Scott Martin
Marian D. Moskowitz
Acting Secretary of Education
Eric Hagarty
Representative Brad Roae
Alexander C. Roberts
Senator Judith L. Schwank
Zakariya Scott
Larry C. Skinner
Skylar Walder
Neil R. Weaver
Governor Tom Wolf
Janet L. Yeomans

Chancellor,
State System of
Higher Education
Daniel Greenstein
Bloomsburg University
Council of Trustees
Nancy Vasta, Chair
Dr. Brian O’Donnell, Vice Chair
Duane Greenly, Secretary
Judge Mary Jane Bowes
Amy Brayford
Edward Edwards
Daniel Klingerman
John E. Wetzel
Raymond Zaborney
Julia Burcin, Student Trustee
President,
Bloomsburg University
Bashar W. Hanna

Executive Editor
Jennifer Umberger
Co-Editors
Eric Foster
Tom McGuire
Designer
Kerry Lord

Bloomsburg: The University Magazine is published three times
a year for alumni, students’ families, and friends of the university
Back issues may be found at issuu.com/buhuskies.
Address comments and questions to:
Bloomsburg: The University Magazine
Arts and Administration Building
400 East Second Street
Bloomsburg, PA 17815-1301

Sports
Information
Mary Raskob

Email address: magazine@bloomu.edu

Contributing
Writers
Thomas Schaeffer ’02
Andrea O’Neill ’06

Bloomsburg University is an AA/EEO institution and is accessible to disabled
persons. Bloomsburg University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color,
religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry,
disability, or veteran status in its programs and activities as required by Title IX of
the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990,
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of
1964, and other applicable statutes and University policies.

Cover Illustration
Kerry Lord

Visit Bloomsburg University on the web at bloomu.edu.

© Bloomsburg University 2022

Integration Update
After more than 18 months of work by
nearly 1,000 individuals, the integration
of Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and
Mansfield universities under the banner
of Commonwealth University officially
takes place July 1.
This spring the integration process
took several needed steps to make the
transition a reality. On March 15, initial
approval by the institutional accrediting
agency, Middle States Commission on
Higher Education, was received.
Accreditation by Middle States is
required by the U.S. Department of
Education and assures students, families,
and communities the University has
completed a rigorous review process and
provides a high-quality education.
“Together, Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and
Mansfield embody the power of three,
which will create a higher education
experience, the likes of which is not
possible without integration,” said BU
President Bashar W. Hanna, who led the
Northeast integration process.
“It is a testament to the hard work and
dedication of President Hanna and the
students, faculty, staff, and trustees
at Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and
Mansfield,” said Dr. Daniel Greenstein,

chancellor of Pennsylvania’s State
System of Higher Education. “Together,
they will harness the rich heritage
of partner campuses and combine
their strengths in meeting the high
standards required for accreditation
while delivering affordable, high quality,
career-relevant education to all.”
Earlier in March, the Board of Governors
of the Pennsylvania State System of
Higher Education voted to approve the
name Commonwealth University of
Pennsylvania to represent the integrated
entity for Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and
Mansfield universities. Commonwealth
University will not serve as the primary
public-facing identifier, allowing the
universities to legally become one entity
while maintaining their strong brands
regionally and beyond.
The final piece of the puzzle came in late
April when the NCAA approved to proceed
with the plan to retain a full complement
of NCAA athletic programs on the
campuses that currently host them.
Each campus will maintain its full
menu of sports offerings and remain
wholly independent of each other. All
athletic programs will continue to use
their respective location name, existing
logos, colors, mascots, and traditions.

“I extend our thanks to our NCAA
colleagues and the Membership Committee
for its consideration and approval of our
plan to maintain the full complement
of athletic teams at Bloomsburg, Lock
Haven, and Mansfield,” said Hanna.
“Through our collaboration, we’ve ensured
that our student-athletes have the
opportunity to compete as they do
today. Intercollegiate athletics hold a
special place as part of the fabric of
each of our campus communities and
institutional brands. Together we can
confidently move forward into the 2022-23
academic year and beyond — to cheer on
the Huskies, Bald Eagles, and Mounties.”
Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield are
charter members of the Pennsylvania
State Athletic Conference and compete
primarily at the NCAA Division II level.
Bloomsburg’s 23 and Lock Haven’s 21
varsity athletic programs include NCAA
Division I men’s wrestling programs that
compete in the Mid-American Conference.
Lock Haven’s Division I field hockey
program competes in the Atlantic 10
Conference. Mansfield’s 13 varsity athletic
programs include sprint football, which
is a member of the Collegiate Sprint
Football League.

For more information on integration, visit

bloomu.edu/integration

AROUND THE QUAD

Top Faculty
Recognized
Three BU faculty members, Kerrie
DeVries, Christian Grandzol, and Scott
Inch, were named the University’s 2021-22
Outstanding Teaching Award recipients by
the Teaching and Learning Enhancement
(TALE) Center.

Bloomsburg
Bloomsburg University
University of
of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Summer
Summer 2022
2022

DeVries is an assistant professor in the
Department of Psychology; Christian
Grandzol is a professor in the Department
of Management and International Business;
and Inch is a professor in the Department
of Mathematical and Digital Sciences. The
faculty were nominated by graduating
seniors from the Class of 2021-22 and
selected by TALE’s Outstanding Teaching
Award Committee.

4

“Congratulations to this year’s TALE
Outstanding Teacher Award recipients,”
said President Bashar Hanna. “I am
grateful to Kerrie DeVries, Christian
Grandzol, Scott Inch, and all our
outstanding faculty members who go
above and beyond in support of our
students and their success.”

and awarded a plaque. In addition, recipients
are awarded a professional development
stipend through the BU Foundation.

All recipients were acknowledged at the
Spring 2022 commencement ceremonies

The 2021-22 Outstanding Teaching Award
Committee is composed of Victoria

The investment will allow
us to enhance our
high-performance clinical
practice environment and
graduate more highlyqualified nurses in our
surrounding communities.
— KIMBERLY OLSZEWSKI,
interim associate dean for nursing

From left: Drs. Christian Grandzol, Kerrie DeVries, and Scott Inch

Geyfman, finance; Michael Hickey, history;
Denise Davidson, teaching and learning;
David Fazzino, anthropology; Abby
Hare-Harris, biological and allied health
sciences; and committee chair, Lisa M.
Stallbaumer-Beishline, TALE Director.

Grant to Support Nursing Program
Over the last several years, the importance of nurses has become increasingly evident.
To help grow the nursing department at BU, the Bloomsburg University Foundation
has secured a grant from the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania
(FCFP) for $40,000. The grant, awarded via the Ralph and Josephine Smith Fund, will
be used to fund the construction of a state-of-the-art Nursing Simulation Center at BU.
“We are grateful for this support from the First Community Foundation Partnership.
This award will have a tangible impact on the future of nursing in our region,” said
Kimberly Olszewski, interim associate dean for nursing. “The investment will allow us
to enhance our high-performance clinical practice environment and graduate more
highly-qualified nurses in our surrounding communities.”
Bloomsburg University’s nursing program is ranked sixth in the state of Pennsylvania
and is highly sought after by prospective students. Due to the high demand among
local aspiring nurses, the program has outgrown its current space, recently
increasing its graduating class by more than 30 percent. The FCFP’s support
will help BU meet a critical need for the University and the region.

AROUND THE QUAD

Student EMTs Put Training to Use By Abby Stoudt, Student Assistant
When BU students Alex Pasculle ’22M and Erik Josephson, both
EMTs, got an ambulance alert on their phones about a student
who was having a seizure, they wasted little time in coming to
the aid of their fellow Husky.
For their actions, they were presented the Husky Hero award
by Dean of Students Scott Kane.
In March, a student suffered a serious medical emergency in
Sutliff Hall. Pasculle and Josephson put their emergency
training into action. Pasculle was in a lab class when the
emergency notification read across his phone.
“I was preparing a research project when the call came in,” said
Pasculle. “I was alerted of the emergency through an app we
use at Bloomsburg Ambulance Service that a student in Sutliff
was actively seizing.”

molecular biology and will attend medical school this fall.
“I became certified as an EMT when I was 16 after joining
my local volunteer fire department. I have been interested
in emergency medicine for as long as I can remember,”
said Pasculle.
Josephson, a sophomore nursing student from Marlboro, N.J.,
has had personal experiences with medical emergencies and
knew he had to get to the scene immediately.
“When I was younger, my dad had a stroke, and we needed to
call 911, and seeing what the EMTs did for my dad made me
want to help someone else,” said Josephson. “Once I heard
the call come in over the ambulance’s radio, I knew we had
to get there as soon as possible.”

After arriving at the scene,
Josephson, who also
received the alert, helped
Pasculle get the supplies
from the ambulance to start
intervention to help the student.
“Alex Pasculle and Erik
Josephson epitomize the
Husky Family culture of our
campus,” said President
Bashar Hanna. “This is
another great example of
Huskies helping Huskies.
We are a stronger and more
caring community because
of these efforts.”
Pasculle, from Pittsburgh,
has always had a passion
for helping others. He is a
graduate student studying

BU Expands Partnerships with Johnson College
Bloomsburg continues to forge partnerships to expand opportunities for students across the state. In April, Johnson College
and Bloomsburg University signed a dual admission transfer agreement. Through the agreement, students who apply for
dual admission and graduate from Johnson College’s Associate’s Degree in Electronic Engineering Technology program are
guaranteed admission to Bloomsburg University. They will enter with at least full junior standing in BU’s Bachelor of Science in
Electronics Engineering Technology program.
Johnson College students transferring to BU must meet minimum cumulative grade point average requirements and satisfy all
other transfer requirements. All agreements become effective in fall 2022. The agreement with Johnson College is in addition to
BU’s admissions agreements with 17 institutions across the state.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Summer 2022

Alex Pasculle, left, and Erik Josephson, with BU police sergeant
Heather Comstock and Scott Kane, dean of students.

5

AROUND THE QUAD

Student Guard Member Presents Flag to BU
Leo Malfara, a sergeant in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, was one of several BU students deployed with an aviation unit
out of Fort Indiantown Gap to Iraq/Kuwait from summer 2020 – summer 2021.
Malfara was a door gunner for a Black Hawk helicopter over Iraq/Kuwait during his deployment. While serving overseas,
the BU military office and BU Student Veterans Association (BUSVA) sent care packages to Malfara and the other BU students
deployed. As part of his thank you to the University, he presented a United States flag that flew on one of his missions to
BU President Bashar Hanna.
Those attending the presentation were, from left: Jared Stump ‘22, president BU Student Veterans Association; Leo Malfara;
Kimberly Speece, student secretary in the Office of Military Affairs; BU President Bashar Hanna; Jared Devlin; and Chris Shiffer,
graduate assistant in the Office of Military Affairs.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Summer 2022

A Top Choice for Military Students

6

Bloomsburg once again earned the
Pennsylvania National Guard Associations’
(PNGAS) Guard-Friendly School designation
for 2022. BU is one of 57 colleges and
universities earning the Guard-Friendly
designation that recognizes the best
practices of the schools that meet and
exceed the standards adopted by PNGAS.
“This recognition demonstrates our
University’s commitment to supporting
and celebrating our students who
proudly defend our nation,” said BU
President Bashar Hanna. “As a University
community, we strive to serve our

military students in exemplary ways
because they deserve nothing less than
our very best.”
Developed by the PNGAS Education
Advisory Council, the PNGAS GuardFriendly School standards were designed
to recognize colleges, universities, and
trade schools that meet or exceed 10
criteria that create a supportive learning
environment to assist Guard members
pursuing post-secondary degrees.
Bloomsburg University is the educational
destination for more than 300 military

students and that number has been
growing steadily in recent years. BU is
different from many other colleges and
universities in its unique approach to
the different needs of military students.
The centerpiece of those efforts is
the Office of Military and Veterans
Resources, which works for current and
former military members, spouses and
dependents, and ROTC cadets. BU also
enables students to obtain academic
credit for their military experience
through a Military Academic Credit
Review Board.

COMMON GROUND

An Investment in Excellence
$1

Million Gift to Boost Honors College
As a first-generation college student,
Steve Jones ’83 came to Bloomsburg
University looking to find his way in
the world. Now, nearly 40 years later,
he and his wife, Melanie SanchezJones, have made a $1 million gift for
the BU Honors College to support
the construction and enhancement
of Lycoming Hall, the Honors College
designated residence hall.

Jones, who recently retired as the president and CEO of
Covanta Holding Corporation, has been a loyal donor to BU
for nearly 40 years with contributions totaling more than $2
million. Donating primarily through a foundation he created
with his wife, they direct their support to high-impact learning
practices, including study-abroad professional experience
grants and Professional U initiatives, including support for four
Professional U Faculty Fellowships.
“I came to Bloomsburg as a first-generation college student,
looking to make something of myself and broaden my horizons,”
says Jones. “My own experience studying abroad provided me
with the opportunity to do that. Bloomsburg opened those
doors for me and propelled me to a very successful global
career. I hope our gift to the Honors College can help provide
more opportunities for high-impact practices.”
“This gift from Steve and Melanie is a testament to their
extraordinary generosity and vision to align their passion for

Artist’s Rendering
supporting BU students with the University’s strategic priorities
of attracting the best and brightest students for a world-class
academic and co-curricular experience, and we can’t thank them
enough,” says President Bashar W. Hanna. “Providing facilities
like this to support our Honors students presents a tremendous
advantage in helping us recruit high-achieving students.”
The renovation of the Honors College facility will include a
new entrance and outside gathering area for honors students
and upgrades to the lobby, classrooms, conference rooms, and
shared study spaces.
“The Honors College has experienced significant growth over
the past four years,” says Provost and Senior Vice President
Diana Rogers-Adkinson. “This gift will help us create a space
that fosters that while demonstrating to all the value of being
in Honors College.”
Renovations will begin in 2023 and are expected to be
complete by the spring of 2024.

Bloomsburg
Bloomsburg
University
University
of Pennsylvania
of Pennsylvania
Summer
Summer
2022
2022

BU Honors College is a driving force in attracting high-achieving
students and has quickly outgrown its space. The reimagined
facility will provide Honors College students with a collaborative
living and learning space to realize their academic and
intellectual potential.

7
7

news on campus

Satisfying the
Need to Help
Diehl Center for Law School Preparation
By Tom McGuire
Opens Doors for Students
Becoming a lawyer had never crossed Craig Diehl’s
mind. That is until his business law professor told him
he’d be a good one. An acumen for accounting, the
seed planted by his professor, and a desire to help
others, eventually put him on the path to making a
$1.5 million gift to BU to establish the Craig A. Diehl
Center for Law School Preparation.
It was tennis that brought Craig Diehl ’82 to Bloomsburg in the late 1970s. A
successful career on the courts that included a then-record 99 wins led him to
selection into the BU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.
But in the classroom, he excelled with numbers and had aspirations of becoming
a CPA and working for one of the big eight accounting firms.
“In my junior year, Dr. Barbara Behr spoke to me after a Business Law class and said I
had the highest grades in the class and the qualities needed for being a good lawyer,”
says Diehl. “I’m sure the look on my face gave away what I was thinking. There is no
way I can be a lawyer.”
Flattered, but unconvinced by her suggestion, Diehl graduated, became a CPA, and moved
to Baltimore to work for what is now Price Waterhouse Coopers with fellow BU tennis
alum Drew Hostetter ’76. He was on his way to a career that would fulfill his dream.

Bloomsburg
Bloomsburg
University
University
of Pennsylvania
of Pennsylvania
Summer
Summer
2022
2022

But, like an itch you can’t scratch, the desire to have a more direct impact on helping
others, qualities learned from his parents, nagged at him.

8
8

“The more that I thought about how to help others, the more I came back to the
words of Dr. Behr, ‘did you ever consider becoming a lawyer?’ I’d love to go to law
school, but how? But where? How do you get in and how would I pay for it? I had
lots of questions and no answers.”
Diehl navigated through the application process and landed a spot at the Dickinson
School of Law in Carlisle. And because he hadn’t prepared all along for the rigors of
law school, initially, he struggled with one thing that often impacts many first-year
law students: the sheer amount of reading.
“I enjoyed reading the sports section each day, not 200 pages of law school material
each night that first semester,” says Diehl. “That first semester of law school was rough,
but I rebounded and finished in the top 20 percent of my class. Students starting law
school don’t know that the first semester is really to ‘weed out’ those who can’t cut it.”
After working for a firm, Diehl started his own law firm. And that CPA license, which
he still maintains, has paid off handsomely.

“Having my CPA license was a tremendous
attribute and asset for me. I had a
decent-sized client base for tax return
preparation and grew the law business
from this initial base of clients,” says Diehl.
His firm further specializes in real estate,
estate planning and administration,
bankruptcy, corporate matters, and civil
litigation.
“Many lawyers have no clue about the
tax ramifications on large business
transactions, so it provides me with a
distinct advantage when I am trying to
negotiate to assist individuals or businesses
to get the best possible result for them”.
Suddenly he was helping others overcome
tough legal matters or deep financial

COMMON GROUND

Dr. Hanna was beyond excited
about having a resource for students
who wanted to learn more about law
school… before I knew it, he was calling
people to get the wheels in motion.
— CRAIG DIEHL ’82

concerns like bankruptcy. “You know,
probably the greatest pride I have is helping
individuals resolve difficult issues in their
life or assisting businesses with strategic
solutions to resolve their business matters.”
As he neared his 60th birthday, Diehl,
who is also a Foundation Board member,
began thinking how he could best give
back to Bloomsburg, which had given
him so much. He envisioned a place to
help BU students with an interest in the
law get answers to questions about law
school so they could be better prepared.
Meeting with BU President Bashar Hanna
to present his idea, he was surprised by
Hanna’s reaction.

“Dr. Hanna was beyond excited about
having a resource for students who
wanted to learn more about law school,”
says Diehl. “I thought he’d turn down the
idea because you don’t think of BU as a
place you go if you want to attend law
school. But, before I knew it, he was calling
people to get the wheels in motion. His
reaction was beyond what I expected.”
Directed by Dr. Loren Selznick from
the Zeigler College of Business, who
worked as an attorney in New York
City for years, the Center is now a hub
for students who think a law career
might be for them. Open to all majors,
the Diehl Center sponsors a speaker
series, recruiting events, visits to tour

law schools, LSAT prep course, and
informational sessions about applying.
Over the last five years, an average of 15
BU students have gone on to law school
after graduation.
“Currently, more than 100 students have
expressed an interest in the law and
regularly use the Center,” says Diehl. “If
the Diehl Center can help five or 10
students a year navigate the law school
application process, that would be great.
And if a student can determine law school
is not for them, that’s just as important.
It saves them time and money.”
So the student swayed by an observant
faculty member is now doing what he
always dreamed of: helping others.

Bloomsburg
Bloomsburg
University
University
of Pennsylvania
of Pennsylvania
Summer
Summer
2022
2022

Artist’s rendering of future
Diehl Center facility.

9
9

Hakeem Thomas ’17

Bloomsburg
BloomsburgUniversity
UniversityofofPennsylvania
PennsylvaniaSummer
Summer2022
2022

Professional U Opens Doors for
Student Success and Alumni Engagement

10
10

By Eric Foster

Nearly a decade ago, Dr. Lynda Michaels ’87/’88M had a vision for involving
alumni in the life of the University through more than socials and picnics.
“We started with this notion of ‘how do we do alumni engagement
differently?’ We surveyed alumni and they said ‘We want to be involved
strategically and we’re loyal to Bloomsburg. We love our alma mater and
got a great education, but you could have done a better job with the
career aspect of it,‘” says Michaels, associate vice president for alumni and
professional engagement.

“We thought in terms of the student to alumni life cycle. If we
are able to engage alumni with students in meaningful ways,
alumni are happy, and we’re modeling what it means to be an
alumnus for current students so when they leave, they’ll connect
back and help the next generation.”

As part of the transformation, the alumni
affairs, internships and career development
functions, formerly separate, were
combined as the Office of Alumni and
Professional Engagement. Programs
include the expected — workshops for
resume writing and interviewing — and
the unexpected.

The reality of students’
experience is that they
need to be mentored toward
finding the right career, the
right job once they graduate
and faculty are in the
best position to do it.

These programs make an impact on
thousands of students each semester.
In the 2021-22 academic year, more
than 3,000 students participated in
programs offered by the faculty and
staff across campus, and another 900
students had internship experiences. In
all, 60 percent of students engaged in
Professional U. And alumni play a key
role in that impact.

“At least once a week during the
semester, somewhere on this campus,
an alumnus is engaged in a program or
an event for students,” says Michaels.
“We have students who are reaching out to alumni on LinkedIn
every day and getting answers to questions. We’re doing
student road trips to alumni businesses. It’s about building a
culture of fostering career connections.”

– DR. CHRISTINA FRANCIS,
professor of English and a
Jones Professional U Fellow

A three-day Career Intensive Boot Camp, conferences and
research days in each college all bring dozens of alumni
to campus to share their experience with current students.
And a dedicated financial support, Professional Experience

Dr. Christina Francis

More than listing of programs and initiatives, Professional U
effected a noticeable transformation across the campus —
connecting different generations of
Huskies into a family.

Dr. Lynda Michaels, center, with Lyza Klein ’21/’22M, left,
and Rebecca Nitka ’19.

Bloomsburg
Bloomsburg
University
University
ofof
Pennsylvania
PennsylvaniaSummer
Summer
2022
2022

Working with a team that included
Erik Evans, vice president for university
advancement, and leadership from the
president’s office and academic affairs,
Professional U, one of the first efforts of
its kind in the nation, was born. In short,
Professional U is an engaged career
community of faculty, alumni, and
employer partners who support and
prepare students for careers and life.

Grants, helps students afford to take advantage of internships
and other professional opportunities. A Career Closet helps
students acquire the perfect outfit for that first interview.

11
11

TRANSFORMATIVE STEPS
Hakeem Thomas ’17, a member of the Alumni Association Board,
understands the power of Professional U as both a student and an
alumni volunteer. For Thomas, who arrived at Bloomsburg fresh from
military deployment in 2013, Professional U was transformative at each
step of his college career.
“My first experience with Professional U was sitting down to translate
military jargon to professional language for a resume,” recalls Thomas,
who majored in digital forensics and now serves as cybersecurity
manager for Netmaker Communications. “That morphed into them
assisting me with applying for a grant to attend a student veteran’s
conference.”
Nicole Stickel ’22 and her adviser Michael
Huben, marketing and professional sales.

Crystal Skotedis ’03

To prepare for the conference, Thomas needed professional clothes.
“The first suit I owned was through the Career Closet. I was able to
get the suit there and have it tailored to my size. A beige checkered
suit. I still have it, still wear it,” says Thomas, who further prepared by
attending the second Intensive Career Boot Camp. “There were a few
‘aha’ moments … the dining etiquette dinner especially. In the military,
I was used to scarfing down food. That has helped me throughout my
career when I go to lunch or dinner with clients or the CEO.”
“At the conference, I landed an internship in California. It was a paid
internship, but I needed a place to stay,” says Thomas, who received
a second Professional Experience Grant (PEG) to allow him to take
the internship. “Without the grant, I would have had to turn it down. It
ended up being life-changing. A month and a half into the internship,
they offered me a full-time position. I worked for them for a year and
a half. And I still have that connection. I’m giving a speech for them in
September. It all started with the resume, which led to the conference,
which led to the internship.”
Nicole Stickel ’22 took full advantage of Professional U — participating
in the Zeigler Institute for Professional Development (ZIPD), mock
interviews, the etiquette dinner, resume workshops, and had two
internships. “I was inspired by the students around me,” says Stickel. “So
I went to my professor Michael Huben and I told him I wanted to be my
best self. I don’t know what I want to do, but I love speaking to people.
He said you need to be in sales.” It was a great fit, and the native of
Phillipsburg, N.J., graduated in May with seven job offers.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Summer 2022

AN INVESTMENT IN STUDENT SUCCESS

12

There are many skills you learn
outside the classroom that are
very important. Being able to
make a positive impression at a
dinner meeting, traveling, how
you conduct yourself in a work
setting. You don’t necessarily
learn those things in
the classroom.
– STEVE JONES ’83,
Retired, former president and
CEO of Covanta Holding

Professional U is more than a reorganization of BU’s offices. It’s also an
investment from the University, faculty, staff, and alumni.
Professional Experience Grants are among the most visible examples of
those investments. “We’ve touched almost every major on campus with
the grants,” says Michaels. “And it opened doors that students would
never have access to. And so that’s the real success story of it.”
Michaels notes that the grants are funded by the University and donors.
“To start out, it was funded half by the University, half by donors. We
started with $30,000 in money from donors every year and now we
have grown that to $100,000. And that fund continues to gain support.”
One of Professional U’s early alumni champions is Steve Jones ’83,
who recently retired from his position as president and CEO of Covanta
Holding. Through a foundation he created with his wife, Melanie, Jones
has supported study abroad professional experience grants, and four
Professional U Faculty Fellowships. (See story on page 7.)
“There are many skills you learn outside the classroom that are
very important. Being able to make a positive impression at a

dinner meeting, traveling, how you conduct yourself in a work
setting. You don’t necessarily learn those things in the classroom,”
says Jones. “What impacted me was that opportunity — going
abroad to study in England. Once you get into the working world,
you need to travel. I have traveled all around Europe. I am
appreciative of the fact that you could put me anywhere and
I’d find my way around. Both from a cultural standpoint and
being able to travel around the world and not get lost.”
“I came from a blue-collar family. My parents hadn’t been overseas.
Luckily, I had the resources to do it,” says Jones. “The PEG
grants allow students to go out and experience that.”
Dr. Christina Francis, professor of English and a Jones
Professional U Fellow, works to connect professional
development to students who have majors with titles not
exactly matching those of a future career. “The world is a
different place than when I started teaching,” says Francis.
“The reality of students’ experience is that they need to be
mentored toward finding the right career, the right job once
they graduate, and faculty are in the best position to do it.”
“When students graduate, they’re not going be
writing term papers, so one of the things I’ve done
is assign a similar writing assignment that they might have
done on paper, but in the form of a blog,” says Francis. “It’s
getting them to navigate the world of writing in a digital space
because they’re going be writing in digital spaces.”
Francis helps promote student professional
development by organizing CASSH Con (Careers in
Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities Conference)
each fall, one of a series of events for each college
that includes the CATCH (Collaborating to Assist
Teacher Candidate Hiring) Conference for the College
of Education, the ZIPD Conference for the Zeigler
College of Business and the College of Science and
Technology Pathways Conference.

Pennsylvania Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud
Examiners, she has invited BU students to attend its annual
conference. “Twenty students come to the conference and
get to meet with FBI, IRS, OIG, AG, and fraud investigators. I’ve
invited other colleges, but no one mounts an army of attendees
like Bloomsburg does.”
For Skotedis, the impact of Professional U on her own life has
been profound. “I’m a big fan of the ZIPD Conference. It may
be two days, but it lasts me the entire year because of the
relationships I’ve made.”
“Professional U has become a platform for hiring or mentoring
students. We know the students by their first names when they
return to the same events every year,” says Skotedis, noting that
she was one of the first BU graduates hired by her firm. “I was a
catalyst, my supervisors saw something uniquely ‘BU’ in me. I’ve
participated in hiring over 50 BU students since. It still rings true
that when they start, they advance very quickly.”
Jones sees the integration of Bloomsburg with Lock Haven and
Mansfield universities as an opportunity to impact even more
students. “The mission hasn’t changed. I see this as an opportunity —
bringing the best from each campus to the table and making
it available to a broader group of students, and helping more
students turn into fine young adults.”

Steve Jones ’83

For Crystal Skotedis ’03, Professional U has become
part of her life. She comes to campus several times
a year to participate in the weekend-long Career
Intensive Boot Camps and the ZIPD Conference.
“I was a first-generation student coming from a rural
area. The faculty and professors invested in me. They
saw something in me and I still have much gratitude
for the foundation they gave me. When I took my
first post-college job, I was shocked by how good an
education I received,” says Skotedis, principal at Boyer
& Ritter, CPAs and Consultants. “I felt committed to
giving the same opportunity to the next generation
of students. It’s the students who really maximize the
opportunity and grab on to every event, session, and
roundtable who set themselves apart. Some of them
have a job even before they have a resume.”
Skotedis’ involvement with BU students extends
off-campus as well. As president of the Central

Bloomsburg
Bloomsburg
University
University
ofof
Pennsylvania
PennsylvaniaSummer
Summer
2022
2022

The conference introduces students to alumni
experiences and encourages them to see how their
coursework directly applies to careers. “When they
go onto the job market, instead of saying, ‘I took
this class,” says Francis. “I had this class, and from
this class I gained these competencies.”

13
13

INDOMITABLE
SEAN
SEAN
SEARS
SEARS
COMES
COMES
BACK
BACK
FROM
FROM
INJURY
INJURY
TOTO
GRADUATE
GRADUATE

Bloomsburg
BloomsburgUniversity
UniversityofofPennsylvania
PennsylvaniaSummer
Summer2022
2022

By Eric Foster

14

The Sears family, from left: Marc, Sean, Terry, and Brianna.

Sean Sears celebrating his graduation with his team at Magee
Rehabilitation in Philadelphia.

has amnesia of his time around the accident, and his language
skills were impaired at first. “The first couple weeks of emails
were in broken English. But he understood what I was
saying. He wasn’t just an adviser, he was a teacher and a friend.”

A month earlier, on Oct. 17, Sears had been struck by
a motorcycle in the early evening while walking across
Lightstreet Road. The injuries were extensive. Sears’ heart
stopped for several minutes, his jaw and nose were broken,
spleen ruptured, leg broken in three places from his knee to
ankle, and a hairline fracture ran throughout his skull.

“Over time I could see his writing improve, and that gave me
hope that he was on the road to a full recovery,” says Inch.
“His emails were important to me and I hope they helped him
in some small way. When Sean returned to class, it was clear
that his focus on getting back to normal really had a profound
impact on his recovery. He and I are much closer now than
we were before the accident. I’m so proud of him and his
determination to return to campus to finish his degree.”

“There was a two-page long list of injuries,” says Sears. “There
were 18 reasons on the paper of why I should not have made it.”
For Sears, not making it was never an option. And this
May, he walked across the stage at Redman Stadium at
commencement to receive his degree in digital forensics.
Those hundreds of steps across the stage were the culmination of
support from his family, the Bloomsburg University community,
and Sean’s own indomitable determination.
In the months that followed the accident Sears’ mother Terry
visited every day.
“I convinced the nurses and doctors to allow him to listen to
his favorite songs throughout the day and night by showing
them medical evidence, which proved it calmed him and
provided a pathway to regaining memories and connections,”
says Terry, who is a licensed clinical social worker in complex
trauma. “We wanted those who loved him to have a way to
connect with him and reach him through the medicallyinduced haze. We allowed him to hear their voices and
messages of support and encouragement to fight his way
back to them through phone calls.”
To aid the family, the University provided an apartment on
campus for Terry. The campus community also rallied with
a Go Fund Me campaign that raised thousands of dollars to
help the family with expenses.
“Bloomsburg University was truly at the heart of Sean’s healing,”
says Terry. “From the very beginning, the University’s support,
guidance, and connections allowed me to focus on advocating
for his needs and removed the financial burden and worry
about how to make that happen from a distance.”
Sean’s own determination manifested itself soon after coming
out of the coma. “Against the doctor’s direction, I grabbed a
walker,” recalls Sears. “By the end of that day I was walking to
the end of the hallway.”
“Prioritizing the people I cared about helped me fix myself
faster because I had set goals,” says Sears. “I wanted to be
home by Christmas. Initially, they told me it might be eight
weeks minimum at the hospital and physical rehab, which I
started in November. I walked out of there on Dec. 12. That
was three and a half weeks rather than eight.”
In addition to his family, Sears had the support of his professors,
particularly Scott Inch.
“Throughout physical rehabilitation, I was emailing my adviser,
Dr. Scott Inch,” says Sears. Because of his head injury Sears

“Bloomsburg feels like a family,” says Sears, whose parents
Terry and Marc met at Bloomsburg. Sean chose BU because
of its digital forensics program. “I’ve always had an interest in
computers, but I didn’t really know what direction to go with it.
And then as I looked into digital forensics, it’s like figuring out
a puzzle and stopping the bad guys. For me it was a perfect fit.”
“And Bloomsburg is very local to me — an hour and 15 minutes
away,” adds Sears, whose family is from Jermyn, Lackawanna
County. “I’ve always been a very family-based person. I wanted
to stay close to home in case they needed me for something.”
The road to recovery wasn’t easy. “Physical rehab was four
times a day every day for weeks. And they’d be like, ‘does this
hurt? We can stop. We can take it easy,’” recalls Sears. “I’ll
think, no, I’m OK. We can keep going because, end goal of
Christmas. In my head, I was screaming. It was painful. But if I
don’t keep pushing, I’m not going to make it all by Christmas.”
Even when he returned home, Sean’s journey was far from
over. On waking from the coma, his formerly 215-pound
frame had withered to 142 pounds. “I had no muscle mass. I’ve
taught myself how to be well. I started going to the gym six
days a week, gained muscle, and taught myself how to diet.
Now I’m 198 pounds.”
“One of the biggest hurdles I had to deal with, due to the head
injury, was that my right eye wasn’t able to follow things at the
same rate that my left eye could. I wasn’t allowed to drive. I
had to go to vision therapy every day. After three months of
doing that, I was able to drive again safely.”
And there are lingering effects from the accident that may
never go away. Such as neuropathy in his foot, which causes
pain, particularly in the cold.
“I’ve got tinnitus in my right ear. It’s just a very loud ringing.”
Sears has dealt with the ringing with determination and
humor. “I’ve learned to come to terms with it so now it’s just
like free music. If that’s the worst thing I have to deal with after
everything I went through, so be it. I can walk and talk again.
It’s more important than to hear some ringing in my ear.”
“Never give up,” says Sears. “It sounds very simple. At the end
of the day, that’s the only decision you can really make. If
something is really cutting you down, something beating you
up. If you give up, then you’re letting that win. As long as you
never give up, even if something that can’t be fixed, at least
you try, which is the most important part.”

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Summer 2022

W

aking out of an induced coma in November of 2020,
Sean Sears ’22 overheard a doctor telling his mother
that he may not walk again. May never be able to
speak words correctly. May never go back to college.

15

Commencement Speakers Honored as

New Huskies

Sage advice from two business leaders highlighted the
Spring 2022 Commencement ceremonies. Nearly 1,500
graduates received diplomas during the ceremonies.
Radio pioneer Kerby Confer and manufacturing firm
president Ronn Cort were both featured speakers and
awarded honorary Doctor of Commercial Science
degrees at the ceremonies on May 15.
To the graduates of the College of Education and College
of Liberal Arts, Confer advised, “Get your professional life
in order before settling down. Then focus on your family
like you focused on your profession and also take time to
smell the roses and get to know your kids.”
Confer, who has owned an interest and operated over 200
station licenses and was inducted into the Pennsylvania
Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2003, has led the Confer
Radio Talent Institute held at BU each summer since 2013.
He has also created a new legacy with a $5.3 million gift
to the BU Foundation designed to support and inspire
the next generation of broadcasting students. The Kerby
Confer Media Center, located in the soon-to-be renovated
McCormick Center for Human Services, will include a fully
renovated radio station, TV studio, and newsroom.
“Also, follow the job opportunity to wherever it takes you
and know it will require sacrifice,” added Confer. “Don’t
move just for more money. Be sure it is a learning and
growing job with a mentor who cares about you.”

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Summer 2022

Cort, president and COO of SEKISUI KYDEX, a Bloomsburgbased plastics manufacturer, spoke to the graduates of the
Zeigler College of Business and the College of Science of
Technology.

16

“At this moment, you are the future. You are relevant.
You are important. You are needed. Your ideas, your
talent, your passion, and yes — your hard work — is
about to make a positive and meaningful difference in
this world. How can I be so sure about this? Because my
company has enough Bloomsburg University graduates
who are thriving and making important differences for
our company, our clients, and our planet,” said Cort, who
is a member of the Bloomsburg University Foundation
Board. In 2019, with Cort as the driving force, SEKISUI
SPI made a $500,000 gift to construct The SEKISUI
Professional Experience Lab for students in downtown
Bloomsburg on the third floor of the Greenly Center.
“The difference that BU alumni make isn’t an anomaly
— it’s a trend. You are ready to contribute. On day one,”
Cort said. “Whoever encouraged you to attend here or
confirmed that Bloomsburg University was the right place
for you — thank them. This school is special. It’s relevant.”
At the ceremony, BU President Bashar Hanna highlighted
the top honor graduates from each college as well as
Sean Sears, who had been seriously injured after being
hit by a motorcycle in October, 2020.

A Double Graduation
for a High School Student
By Abby Stoudt, Student Assistant

Norfolk, of Danville, started college before
he had finished middle school. He enrolled
in the Advanced College Experience (ACE)
program at BU while in eighth grade in 2017.
“During the day, I would go to campus
and attend classes like a normal college
student. The only difference is that at
night I still had my high school classes
to finish online,” says Norfolk. “I wasn’t
apprehensive about this when I first
started at BU, because I didn’t know that
graduating from both college and high
school at the same time was even an
option.”
Norfolk isn’t the only member of his
family to participate in the ACE program.
His older brother, Zachary, participated

in the program, graduating from
BU just one year after graduating
from high school. His younger
sister, Alexis, has just started the
program while in seventh grade.
Another brother, Jack, is taking
general education requirements
through the program while
being a high school freshman.
Norfolk plans to further his
academic career in a doctoral
program and has been accepted
into a program at Penn State.
“I would love to do research in
the technology industry to see
the practical applications of
what I work on.”
Norfolk doesn’t think that he has missed
out on having a normal college experience
by completing his undergraduate career
early. “I don’t think that anyone has had
a ‘normal college experience’ because
of the COVID-19 pandemic, he says.

One of his professors, Drue Coles, reflected
on how Norfolk chose to complete an extra
credit project with independent research
on advanced elements of computer
programming despite high grades in the
course. “Max could be forgiven if he had
coasted through his final weeks as an
undergraduate, but instead, he kept a
heavy foot on the gas.”

Dream Achieved in Her Own Time
For Jessica Kincaid, a dream deferred was not a dream forgotten. A 36-year-old wife
and mother of three, Kincaid graduated in May with her bachelor’s degree in social work.
“I always wanted to finish college,” says Kincaid. “After graduating high school, I attended
college for a few months. But my maturity, my heart, just wasn’t in it. I found myself
not going to class. I had kids, so then that took priority.”
“However, once they got old enough, I was like, you know what? They can handle
me not being around as much or be doing schoolwork at the table with them,” adds
Kincaid, who began her studies at BU in 2018 while working in the MRI department at
Geisinger Medical Center.
“I enrolled at Bloomsburg University full-time and worked full-time. It was hard to be
a full-time student, raising three children,” says Kincaid, who has children Hailey, Eric
and Sophia with her husband, Ryan. “But I took my education a lot more seriously
than I did as a teenager. I think I’m just where I was always meant to be.”
Kincaid chose social work because of her experiences working for Health and Human
Services in Camden, N.J., many years ago. “I saw the poverty. I saw the children
that were without, and I knew that I always wanted to be that person who makes a
difference in one person’s life. That’s why I went into social work.”
On graduation day, Kincaid had already been hired as an early intervention specialist
at the CMSU (Columbia, Montour, Snyder and Union counties) Behavioral Health
Development Services in Danville.
“What’s nice is that my children have seen that there’s no timeline on life. You do
things when you’re ready for it. They saw all the hard work and effort I put in, and I
think it’s just become a lesson for them too.”

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Summer 2022

As graduates waited to walk across the
stage and receive their diplomas during
commencement, computer science
major Max Norfolk had a unique situation.
Norfolk graduated from Bloomsburg
University and Danville High School just
weeks apart.

17

HUSKY LEADERS

R E C O G N I Z I N G
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Summer 2022

By Andrea O’Neill ’06
18

In a ceremony this June, the Alumni Association honored five
Huskies who have excelled, inspired others, and shared their
success with others.

William T. Derricott ’66
Volunteer of the Year Award
Teaching, Listening, and Hiring Huskies

Thomas Mason ’84
him prepare for his first job through cover
letter writing, resume building, and interview
preparation. “That course really helped me get
my first job. I felt comfortable and confident
after I took that first job. That is one I will always
remember.”
Now, whenever there is a professional
development or recruiting event on campus,
Tom Mason is there — teaching, listening, and
hiring Huskies. He has volunteered as an alumni
panelist, resumé reviewer, and mock interviewer
through the Zeigler Institute of Professional
Tom Mason ’84 applied to BU on the reputation
Development Conference (ZIPD) and the Career
of the business college but stayed for the fit.
Intensive Boot Camp. In fact, he has attended
Nearly 40 years later, he has used his success
every ZIPD Conference since its inception in 2011.
to help other Huskies find their place as well.
Over the years, Mason has not only advocated
To Mason, who describes himself as mathfor students, he has also become an advocate
ematically inclined, business just made sense.
for other alumni to get involved. “If you can
help students who are like what you were like
“I learned what makes people ‘tick,’” says
at their age, you will get more out of it than
Mason. “I learned it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
It’s every day, grinding it out, and over time you the students. I always feel better when I leave
campus than when I got there.”
get where you want to be. I liked the students
at Bloomsburg because they were like me:
Mason also volunteers during the Careers in Art,
hard-working and determined. I connected
Social Sciences and Humanities conference,
with alumni and students, and it went from
working to help students in the liberal arts see
there.”
careers for themselves in the business world.
By his mid-30s, Mason had risen to a leadership “We like liberal arts majors in business. They are
position with his company where he could hire generally good communicators and know how
to connect and solve problems. They need to
new associates. His first stop for recruiting?
Bloomsburg. Since then, he’s been helping fellow know that they don’t have to be a psychologist
or sociologist to contribute.”
Huskies find their fit with every company for
which he works. Once Mason was back on
Mason was surprised when he received the
campus, he was able to reconnect with the
news he had been chosen as Volunteer of the
business college and became part of the Zeigler
Year, “because I know there are others who
College of Business Advisory Board, which he
do a lot,” says Mason. “Bloomsburg has always
now chairs.
been good to me and gave us all the tools we
One thing Mason remembers well as a student needed to be successful. I feel fortunate to be
is a business communication course that helped able to give back.”

Maroon and Gold
Excellence Award

“I had some experiences that required
a tough skin and my mouth used to
get me in trouble,” says Weldon. “But
it molded me into the person I am.
Bloomsburg was a blessing and I did
what I needed to do to graduate.”

An Unconventional Entrepreneur

Salim Weldon ‘08

“There weren’t too many of us, so we
stuck together,” says Weldon of his
classmates in Act 101. “We promised we
would all get through no matter how
long it takes. Without them, I would not
be where I am right now.”

“Popsicle” and “health food” aren’t usually
found together in the same sentence. Or
the same wrapper for that matter.

After losing relatives to health complications
from obesity and witnessing the toll it took
on the physical and mental health of the
children in Philadelphia, the pair experimented
with popsicles made of real fruit and
brought them to a neighborhood cookout.
The snack sold out in 15 minutes and on a
whim in 2012, Whimsicle was born.
“People didn’t think it would work at first,”
says Weldon, who serves as chief marketing
agent. “But, through trial and error, we
have been able to find a lot of success.”
Since then, the focus has expanded from
combatting childhood obesity through
access to healthy snacks to creating
gourmet experiences at corporate events,
fairs, and celebrations. Weldon created a
business model that not only provides a
fun popsicle, but a user experience based
around the incorporation of food, art,
and fashion. Weldon brings his own videographer, customizes the sticks and the
packaging, and incorporates the look and
energy of the Whimsicles into wearable

food art that he designs himself.
“We’re not vendors,” explains Weldon.
“Everything we do is an experience to
engage the customer. I’m trying to start a
conversation with every item I make.”
Just over a decade after graduating from
BU with a bachelor’s degree in business
management and a minor in social work,
Weldon is using his unique business
model to create partnerships with
household names like Footlocker, Saks
5th Avenue, and Budweiser.
“I create outside the box partnerships,”
says Weldon. “The only way I would work
with these companies is if they invested
in this neighborhood, these schools.”
Weldon’s student career at Bloomsburg
was far from assured. Because of his high
school antics, Weldon’s school counselor
refused to support his application to BU.
But Weldon had the grades, and through
the efforts of the Act 101 program, and
a ride from his youth football coach,
Weldon arrived at BU in 2004 with a fly
sense of style and a promise to his
grandmother that she’d see him walk
across the stage and earn a college degree.

“He’s always been a connector among
people,” says former classmate, friend,
and Alumni Association board member
Lamar Oglesby ’07. “He is an expert
networker. His networking ability will
connect you with any major player in any
profession.”
“If you want something in this world,
surround yourself with positive people,”
says Weldon, a devout Muslim and father
of two children. “You have to figure
out what you like and put in the work.
We all go through phases, but respect
yourselves, respect your parents, and
respect your environment. Don’t let
anybody put you in a box.”
“How Salim has grown is probably
most impressive,” says Oglesby. “I think
anybody who knew him during college
would attest to that. He always had a
moral compass, but it’s a lot stronger
now. There’s purpose behind it now.”
“Bloomsburg molded my life,” says
Weldon. “Everybody deserves a second
chance and then it’s up to you what you
do with it. That suit doesn’t make you.
My degree doesn’t make me. Courage
makes me. Determination makes me. I
do it my way. If I fail, I failed my way and
I’ll be happy about that.”

Distinguished Service Award
A Career in Real Estate and Giving Back

Chet Snavely ’70
Sometimes, it’s not all about what you love to do, but rather the kind of life you want
to live and finding a career that can get you there.
It took Chet Snavely ’70 several years after graduation to find that perfect mix of the
two. A first-generation college student and son of a Harrisburg grocer, Snavely came to
Bloomsburg as a business education/accounting major. Since then, he’s developed the
second largest commercial real estate portfolio in central Pennsylvania, reached the
lifestyle he dreamed of, and made a difference in the Harrisburg and BU communities.
At Bloomsburg, Snavely struggled early on; but after moving on campus his second
year and joining Delta Omega Chi fraternity, he developed a sense of belonging and
Continued next page…

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Summer 2022

Salim Weldon ’08 and his partner, Tonae
Simon, have worked hard to change
that thinking. Weldon, from Philadelphia,
has used his leverage and his network
to make that change exponential —
creating a ripple effect in his industry, his
community, and on the corporate stage.

19

Distinguished Service Award Winner, Chet Snavely ’70 continued…

matured. He made the dean’s list his senior year and earned
one of only three A’s in his class of student teachers. “I loved
teaching,” recalls Snavely. “Then the stark reality of a teacher’s salary
hit me. I had bigger dreams and wanted to make a bigger impact.”
After graduation, he tried his hand at a variety of jobs. He worked
as a manager trainee for Traveler’s Insurance, carpet firm sales
manager, and an accountant for the Pennsylvania State Police.
While with the state police, he spent much of his free time at
the Harrisburg Area YMCA. “I would meet all kinds of people and
later, I could call on them and they knew me,” says Snavely.
When none of those jobs satisfied him, Snavely’s father introduced
him to a friend in real estate. It was a perfect fit. Snavely tapped
into his talent for customer service and made the million-dollar
sales club his first year. He moved to commercial real estate
in 1976. Then, on New Year’s Day in 1980 in the midst of a
struggling economy, high interest rates and an energy crisis,
Snavely opened Anchor Commercial Real Estate.
“I was young and I thought I could do this on my own,” Snavely
says. “I was going to make it because I was going to die trying.”
Snavely spent the next 30 years developing and revitalizing
building sites and residential neighborhoods, leasing commercial
buildings; eventually specializing in medical buildings in the early
2000s. His firm soon became the second largest commercial
operation in Harrisburg.
As he built his company, Snavely became heavily invested in the
YMCA, which had done so much for him as a young professional
fresh out of college. He served on the executive committee for
nearly 30 years and brought their annual campaign revenue
from $58,000 to $800,000.

“The YMCA is of crucial significance and an incredible
community force,” says Snavely. “We turn nobody away. The Y
was good to me, and I always felt it was important to give back.”
“Chet knows everybody in the community,” says Rich Curl,
president and CEO of the Harrisburg Area YMCA. “There’s a
lot of people who have a lot of acquaintances, but he knew
their names, he knew about their lives. He’s a big advocate of
Harrisburg and all things Harrisburg.”
Snavely was an early member of the Zeigler College of Business
advisory board, and at the annual ZIPD Conference, he’s shared
his wisdom with other first-generation students looking to
make their impact on the world. “Bloomsburg taught me
independence and how to get along with people and there’s a
confidence that goes with that. I am able to work with students
and pass along my thoughts for the business curriculum.”
He has also been a member of the BU Foundation board,
where his expertise in commercial real estate was key acquiring
downtown properties for affordable student housing and
instrumental in solidifying the University’s presence downtown
with the Greenly Center on Main Street.
“I’ve always wanted to be proud of the buildings I created and
to add to the aesthetics of a neighborhood, not detract.”
“It took me a few swings of the bat to find where I fit, but real
estate has been very good to me. I wanted to make an impact and
create something that will last, and I think I’ve done that. There is
a saying to whom much has been given, much is expected,’” says
Snavely. “And I’ve been given a lot.”

Distinguished Service Award
Making An Impact Across the Globe

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Summer 2022

Lt. Col. Michael Kwasnoski ’95

20

Lt. Col. Michael Kwasnoski
’95 has traveled the world
and made a difference in
his Air Force career. It was
a journey that began at BU
but served him well as he’s
traveled the globe.
While his military career
has taken him all over the
world, Kwasnoski credits
Bloomsburg for opening
up the possibilities; not
only through coursework,
but through professional
development experiences
like study abroad and
student organizations.
A Shamokin native, Kwasnoski had visited campus several times
with his dad, Daniel, a 1962 alumnus. He was selected for the
BU scholars’ program and recalls his time in Montour Hall as

very positive. He graduated with a finance degree and briefly
worked as an admissions counselor before joining the Air Force
and receiving his master’s degree in international business. He
met his wife, Margo, while in grad school and the couple has
two children, Noah, 16, and Selah, 14.
“The College of Business prepared me to problem solve,
work on a team, analyze information, and communicate in
the federal space,” says Kwasnoski. “BU opened up my world
view and was a jumping-off point for international travel and
set me up well to work in an international environment. It
also prepared with an emphasis on ethics and service to the
broader community, which dovetailed with military service.”
While in the Air Force, Kwasnoski was honored as a top
instructor for ROTC at the University of Arizona, has served as
squadron commander, and spent time in high-profile positions
at the Pentagon and with NATO. He has been deployed to
Afghanistan, Turkey, Italy, Belgium, and Southwest Asia and
is currently an instructor at Naval Post Graduate School in
California, teaching resource management to military leaders
from all over the world. He has been honored as Air Force

Officer of the Year on several occasions.
“I wanted to see the world and serve my country and work in a
job that I could be proud of,” says Kwasnoski. “The military has
given me that and it has been so rewarding. After 25 years it just
keeps getting better. That’s why I’m still in uniform.”
Of all his accomplishments, Kwasnoski is most proud of the
ways in which he has been able to make a positive impact on
others, whether it was through assisting the Afghan police,
carrying out a project in the Pentagon, or by volunteering
with veterans’ organizations in every community in which he
is stationed. Kwasnoski has worked to feed the homeless in
Hawaii, coached soccer in Virginia, and basketball in Belgium.

And, he has continued to maintain the BU legacy started by
his dad. He has been a regular contributor to scholarship
funds, and has referred many students to BU. In every instance,
he is grateful for the ways in which his college and career
experiences have allowed him to make friends around the
world and appreciate the diversity of human life on this planet.
“Of all the many differences we have, so many aspects of
our humanity transcend time and culture and nationality.
Having friends and colleagues around the world has given
me an appreciation for differences in culture, language and
experience. There is beauty in that kind of diversity.”

Honorary Alumni Award
A Husky By Choice

The Honorable Mary Jane Bowes

After years of marriage, that pride rubbed off. Though Bowes
did not attend BU, Husky grit is reflected in her career path. A
Georgetown University graduate and a Justice on the Pennsylvania
Superior Court since 2002, Bowes has broken glass ceilings
and served as an inspiration for the Huskies she mentors on
both the Council of Trustees and those she hires in clerkships.
She fought a negative evaluation from the Pennsylvania Bar
Association prior to the election for the Superior Court by
using their criticisms as talking points to prove them wrong.
“I turned the negative into an opportunity for me to move
forward. Once I was elected, I tried to do the best job possible
for the citizens of Pennsylvania,” says Bowes. “You can’t be
defeated by others’ impressions of you. So much of life is
showing up and trying hard.”
She was retained 10 years later, and the Bar Association gathered
impressive and positive feedback from her colleagues and the
community. She was retained again in 2021.
Bowes was appointed by Gov. Tom Corbett to the Bloomsburg
University Council of Trustees in 2013 and served as chairperson
through some of the most challenging transitions in University
history. It didn’t take long before she fell in love with BU “hook,
line, and sinker.”
“The people are so special,” says Bowes. “Everyone is dedicated
to the students and to doing all they can to ensure an outstanding
education for the students. And the students are eager to make
a life for themselves.”
Bowes clearly has the heart of a Husky; citing hard work,
dedication and focus as her personal measures of success and
ones that she regularly sees in Bloomsburg students.

“We have a fair number
of students who are
first-generation so
there is a greater
appreciation than
there might be in
families who have
gone to universities
all over the country
and a seriousness
you may not find
from other institutions,”
says Bowes. “They
come very serious
about obtaining their
degree and learning all
they can. It’s easy for
me to maintain a focus
on the students. We have a powerful mission to help students
at such a critical point in their life. I’ve always had the courage
of my convictions. Keep your eye on the mission and goals and
objectives and try not to get distracted.”
Despite the last few challenging years, Bloomsburg University
is well on the pathway to additional growth and success
through the integration process. “A path is seldom straight and
smooth. When you look back, those bumps and challenges
were the things that made you stronger or moved you in a
direction what is ultimately where you’re supposed to be.”
For the Honorable Mary Jane Bowes, that path has made her
an honorary Husky.
“Now my husband and I are on equal footing,” says Bowes.
“We can both claim Bloomsburg as our home. That is a
wonderful thing. I am surrounded by Bloom graduates so I
know the quality and character of these folks and I will say
the highest honor of my life is to be considered an alum of
Bloomsburg University.”

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Summer 2022

Until this year, the closest Mary Jane Bowes had been to being
a Husky was that she was married to one and wore her Husky
pride as a member of the Council of Trustees. She laughs,
recalling how much her husband, Jerry Morgan, loves his
alma mater and how he always insisted they detour through
Bloomsburg anytime they were in the area.

21

HUSKY NOTES

70s
James Doyle ’72 received the Fran
Fisher Award for Excellence in Sports
Journalism with Andy Ulicny. The duo
has called games together for the past
33 years — primarily for Bloomsburg
University, Berwick, and Southern
Columbia high schools, and were
presented with the award by the National
Football Foundation and the Central
Pennsylvania Chapter of the College
Football Hall of Fame.
Barbara Hudock ’75,
CEO and founding
partner of Hudock
Capital Group, has
been recognized by
Barron’s and Forbes as
being among the
highest-ranked financial
advisors in Pennsylvania
and America. In March, Barron’s included
Hudock in its 2022 list of America’s Top
1,200 Financial Advisors, and among
48 Financial Advisors in Pennsylvania it
recognized. In April, Forbes released its
2022 Best-In-State Wealth Advisors list,
naming Hudock as one of the top Wealth
Advisors in Pennsylvania.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Summer 2022

William Mansell ’75 was inducted into
Pottsville’s Nativity BVM High School
Athletic Hall of Fame. He graduated
from Nativity in 1970, participating in
wrestling, track, and cross country.
His passion for wrestling is evident in
his numerous awards in the sport. He
coached various youth teams and was
a wrestling coach for 25 years.

22

Retired Lt. Col. Brent C. Bankus ’79,
Collections Division Chief; U.S. Army
Military History Institute, Carlisle Barracks,
recently published a book and an
article. His book, “They Also Served: The
Pennsylvania State Defense Forces, 1918
to 1953,” was published by Sunbury Press.
His article, “U.S. Involvement in Small
Wars: A Cold War Focus,” appeared in
the Winter 2021-22 issue of Infantry.

80s
Anthony DiValerio
’82, managing
director, private
wealth adviser, and
global sports and
entertainment director
at Morgan Stanley
Private Wealth
Management, has been
named to Morgan Stanley’s Chairman’s
Club, a group of the firm’s successful
financial advisers.

Carol Vance (Wary) Edwards ’82
recently published two books.
“Adventures from the Edge” chronicles
her travels in Central America, cruise
ships, and an African safari. Her second
book, “Jean Colarusso Fearless Friend of
the Poor” describes the philanthropic life
of a woman who worked with Mother
Teresa in Mexico and impoverished people
in Nigeria and the America southwest.
She has also published a children’s book,
“Andrew Christopher Edward.”
Vicky Lysek Kistler ’82 was named
Allentown’s community and economic
development director. She oversees the
bureaus of health, building standards and
safety, planning and zoning, and special
events, along with the offices of business
development, housing and federal grants
and human relations. Kistler has served
as Allentown health director for 15 years.
Ernest Long ’84 has been hired as
managing editor of Lehigh Valley Business
and the Central Penn Business Journal,
both BridgeTower Media publications.
Long had been at the Morning Call in
Allentown for 34 years, most recently as
a content editor in charge of sports. He
was also an assistant sports editor, a desk
editor and copy chief, a reporter, and a
sports news assistant.
Kent Overholt ’84
was recently named
to the 2022 Forbes
“Best-in-State Wealth
Advisors” lists for
Washington, D.C.
Overholt is senior vice
president for wealth
management at Merrill
Private Wealth Management. Since arriving
at Merrill in 1987, Holt has developed
extensive insight into the complex
investment decisions, opportunities,
and challenges facing ultra-high-networth families. He is a co-founder of
the nonprofit organizations Collect
4 Kids and Dancers Make a Difference.

90s
Matthew Cutler ’91 retired as a
detective after 27 years of service to
the City of Poughkeepsie (N.Y.) Police
Department. Cutler began his career in
1994 and has been assigned to the Patrol
Division, Community Policing Unit, and
the Neighborhood Recovery Unit. In
2003, he was promoted to detective and
has been assigned to the Child Advocacy
Center (CPCA) for the last 15 years.
At the CPCA, he worked on behalf of
abused children. Cutler was also a crime

scene technician, former member of
the Emergency Services Unit, and senior
member of the City of Poughkeepsie
Hostage Negotiation Team.
Scott Davis ’91 has been promoted to
president and chief operating officer of
Ekso Bionics Holdings, Inc., an industry
leader in exoskeleton technology for
medical and industrial use. Davis served
as Ekso’s executive vice president of
strategy and corporate development
since April 2021. He has more than
two decades of worldwide leadership
success in fast growing high-tech
companies. Previously, Davis served as
chief executive officer of Globalmatix, Inc.
Joseph White ’91 has been chief
financial officer of Liberty IT Solutions
since its inception in 2013. Liberty IT is
a government contractor and preferred
partner in the implementation of leading
technologies at the Department of
Veterans Affairs and other federal agencies.
Liberty was acquired by Booz Allen
Hamilton in June of 2021.
Jeffrey Hughes ’93M has joined the
Ares Management Corporation’s Credit
Group as a managing director to lead
the firm’s new effort in sourcing and
managing privately placed investment
grade credit investments. With more
than 25 years of experience, Hughes was
previously a senior director at Nuveen LLC
and a vice president at Alliance Bernstein.
Douglas P. Hibshman ’93 was named
Fox Rothschild’s Washington, D.C.
Office Managing Partner. Hibshman is a
partner in the litigation department and
represents national and international
clients in the defense, health care,
engineering, information technology,
construction, manufacturing, and
services industries with all manner of
complex contract, compliance, tax
controversy, and litigation issues.
Christopher
Beadling ’94 was
installed as president
of the Pennsylvania
Association of Realtors.
The vice president
and broker of record
for Quinn & Wilson,
Inc. Realtors in
Montgomery County, Beadling has been
a Realtor for 20 years. He teaches Realtor
ethics courses and has taught technology
best practices at the national level. He
also developed a real estate technology
company, which he later sold. In 2015,
he served as chair of the Suburban
Realtors Alliance board of directors,

HUSKY NOTES
an industry and consumer advocacy
organization.
Michael DeStefano ’94 has been
named chief operating officer of RKL LLP,
a central Pennsylvania CPA accounting
and business consulting firm.
John Kveragas ’94 has been named
senior vice president and chief auditor
of WSFS Bank, the primary subsidiary of
WSFS Financial Corporation. Kveragas
has more than 20 years of auditing
experience and most recently served as
the Chief Audit Officer for Bryn Mawr Trust.
Mitch Parker ’97 has been promoted to
vice president/chief information security
officer at Indiana University Health in
Indianapolis, Ind. After graduating from
BU, he earned a master’s degree in
information technology leadership from
LaSalle University and an MBA from
the Fox School of Business, Temple
University. Parker has been at IU Health
since 2016 and has worked in the
information security field for 20 years.

Jacqueline Stephen ’99/’02M, director
of the office of distance learning at
Mercer University in Atlanta, received a
Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award
to Azerbaijan. She was selected for her
expertise in instructional and curriculum
design. Her research has examined
factors associated with persistence of
undergraduate online students.

00s
Angela Charnosky ’01 has joined Weis
Markets as senior director of enterprise
services. Charnosky brings over 20 years
of progressive technology experience in
health care and industrial manufacturing.
In her new role, Charnosky will join
Weis Markets’ information technology
team and oversee a team of enterprise
architects, business systems analysts,
and project managers.

Langello Scores a First as Alabama TV Sports Director
Rosie Langello ’16 has been named sports director at WSFA-TV in Montgomery,
Ala. She is the first woman to serve as director in the station’s 67-year history.
“She brings strong storytelling abilities, a fun, bubbly spirit, as well as a commanding
presence,” says Scott Duff, the general manager at WSFA. “Her energy is infectious
and her passion for sports is as strong as I have ever seen.”
Sports have been a huge part of Langello’s life from an early age — from
playing soccer as a child to coaching the Lebanon County Special Olympics
soccer team with her father. At BU she was a video director and news writer for
BUNow.com, a radio personality for 91.1 WBUQ [now WHSK], and an intern in
the sports information office with Tom McGuire. She then earned a master’s
degree in journalism from Northwestern University.
Langello began her career as a producer at WBRE/WYOU-TV in Wilkes-Barre,
then took her first on-air job at WTAJ in Altoona. At WTAJ she covered Penn State
athletics before landing her first big break when she was hired at WPRI
in Providence, R.I.
“Take the job right out of college even if it’s not what you want. I took a
production job and I wanted to be a sports reporter,” said Langello. “Getting
your foot in the door is more important than starting on-air right away. I
produce every single day. I am so thankful for that first production job. So,
if it is offered, take it.”
In Providence, Langello covered the New England Patriots, Boston Bruins, Boston
Celtics, and the four NCAA Division I teams in the state. She also increased
coverage of local high school sports in June and won a New England Emmy
award for most outstanding sports feature for a story on a high school football
player’s viral moment caught on camera, sparked by his bond with his father.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Summer 2022

Thomas Murray ’99, co-founder of A
Path to Wellness Integrative Psychiatry,
Greensboro, N.C., completed the
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business
certification program in Entrepreneurship
in partnership with Babson College in
December 2021. A Path to Wellness
Integrative Psychiatry provides innovative,
socially just, and recovery-oriented
mental wellness services, psychotherapy,
and relationship and sex therapy.

23

HUSKY NOTES
Yvonne Wenger
’02 has been named
director of community
affairs for the
Archdiocese of
Baltimore. Most
recently serving
as the director of
communications
for Baltimore Council President Nick
Mosby, Wenger has nearly 20 years of
experience as a journalist, including
at The Baltimore Sun. Her in-depth
research and reporting on poverty
and the root causes of challenges in
Baltimore City often led to greater
scrutiny of existing problems and
improvements in policies and structural
practices. Her award-winning creation of
the multimedia presentation “The Wait,”
which outlines her personal story of
caring for foster children and eventually
adopting her daughter Adeline, inspired
numerous others to become foster parents.
Thor Edmiston ’03M has been named
superintendent of the Warrior Run School
District. He was previously director of
curriculum and instruction at Midd-West
School District.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Summer 2022

Lucas Blair ’04 has been named
chief technology officer for InContext
Solutions, the global leader in 3D
simulation software for retail. Blair will
lead the acceleration of InContext’s
platform strategy and innovation roadmap
and manage all teams in the areas of 3D
content, software architecture, R&D and
Innovation, UX/UI, and data science.

24

James Smith ’04 has been named vice
president for finance and chief
financial officer of United Health
Services (UHS) and UHS Hospitals in
the greater Binghamton, N.Y. area. In
his new role, Smith will manage the
financial operations of the health-care
organization. Smith, a certified public
accountant, joined UHS in 2018 as
senior director and system controller,
supervising all accounting for the UHS
healthcare system.
Carol Kupsky ’05 has been promoted
to assistant vice president, assistant
controller at First Columbia Bank & Trust,
headquartered in Bloomsburg. Kupsky
has 29 years with First Columbia.

LeeAnn Gephart
’06 has been named
SVP, chief consumer
banking officer at First
Citizens Community
Bank in Montoursville.
She has over 15 years
of experience within
the banking industry.
She volunteers time to numerous nonprofits, including serving as co-founder,
race chairman and board member at
K’s for Cancer of Lycoming County, the
Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, the
Agency Engagement Committee, the
Pennsylvania Bankers Public Relations
Committee, and as a board member at
L.I.F.E. Child Care Learning Center. In
2019 and 2020, Gephart was awarded
the Foremost Under 40 Award by
Pennsylvania Business Central.
George Aulisio ’07
has been named
dean of the Weinberg
Memorial Library
at the University of
Scranton. He has
been serving as the
interim dean since
July 2021. Having
earned a degree in philosophy at BU,
he earned a Master of Science in library
and information science from Drexel
University, a Master of Liberal Arts
in philosophy from the University of
Pennsylvania and is completing his Ph.D.
in philosophy at Temple University. He
recently published a book on philosophy
collection development for an imprint of
the American Library Association, and he
served as editor of the Library Materials
and Pricing Index from 2018-22.
Kevin O’Donnell ’07 has been named
assistant to South Middleton School District
superintendent James Estep. O’Donnell
has 15 years in education, mainly with the
Mifflin County School District, where he
was the chief academic officer.
Rachael Prosseda ’07 and her brother
Luke have taken over the Vineyard
Restaurant in Fountain Hill Borough,
adjacent to Bethlehem.
Michael Keller ’08 has been named
marketing manager for Barry Isett &
Associates (engineers and consultants)
for the Lehigh Valley region. His previous
experience included marketing roles
for nonprofit organizations including
Lehigh Valley Economic Development
Corporation, the Greater Lehigh Valley

Chamber of Commerce, and Discover
Lehigh Valley.
Shawn Clark ’09 and his wife Melissa
recently purchased the former RothermelHeizenroth Funeral and Cremation
Service in Elysburg; Rothermel-Heizenroth
Funeral Home in Mount Carmel; and
Kull-Heizenroth Funeral Home in Ashland.
Clark formerly owned and operated a
funeral home in Lansford for 10 years.
Anthony Postupack
’09, senior
commercial loan
officer with Mauch
Chunk Trust Co., was
elected to the board
of the Northeastern
Pennsylvania Business
Alliance Business
Finance Corp. His primary role will be
to review and approve SBA 504 loan
requests for business customers and offer
his knowledge of commercial lending and
credit. He is a graduate of Leadership
Carbon in 2012, Schuylkill Executive
Leadership in 2021, as well as the
Pennsylvania Bankers Association School
of Commercial Lending in 2013.

10s
Jennifer Yeatts ’10 has been promoted
to client relationship manager for SEK, CPA
& Advisors. Based in the Hanover office,
Yeatts specializes in audit and accounting
services to nonprofit organizations, local
government entities, and employee benefit
plans. In the community, she serves as an
annual gala volunteer with Sweet Charities
and as a member of the Hanover Area
Young Professionals.
Christopher Bizup ’11 was promoted
to sergeant in the Somerset County
Sheriff’s Office. Bizup became a
Somerset County (N.J.) corrections
officer in 2013 and the following year,
attended the Passaic County Police
Academy Class 14-44 and graduated
with the Class Marksman Award.
Matthew Kennedy ’11 has been elected
to the C.F. Martin & Co. board of
directors, a closely held family business.
The nephew of Chris and Diane Martin,
Kennedy has been a full-time employee
of Martin for nearly a decade and has
held a seat on the board of the Martin
Guitar Charitable Foundation.

HUSKY NOTES

Kenneth Lawson ’12 has been promoted
to vice president – relationship manager
for commercial and middle market lending
at Lakeland Bank, a community bank that
services New York, New Jersey, eastern
Pennsylvania, and parts of Connecticut.
Lawson joined Lakeland in 2015 and has
served in increasingly responsible roles.
Dominick Mireles ’12 has been named
director of the Office of Emergency
Management for the City of Philadelphia.
Mireles has been with OEM for over
seven years, serving as deputy director

for operations. He oversees all aspects
of the city’s planning for, response to,
and recovery from emergencies, disasters,
and complex planned public events.
Melanie Ortiz ’12 has taken ownership
of the Lewisburg Studio. A photographer,
Ortiz is also a former New York City and
Philadelphia model.

20s
Chad Cooperman ’20 is coaching
baseball for the Northwestern Lehigh
School District.
Brennen Foster ’20 is an engineering
field technician with American Engineers
Group, Harrisburg.

Kelli McGeehan Fester ’14 has been
named vice president, e-banking and
customer support manager at First
Columbia Bank and Trust, based in
Bloomsburg. Fester began her career in
banking in 2018 as a customer support
supervisor.

Angela Atherton Crossley ’21 has
been named vice president, e-banking
and deposit solutions officer at First
Columbia Bank and Trust, based in
Bloomsburg. Crossley has more than
eight years of banking experience with
First Columbia.

Sean Acton ’15 was promoted from
controller to CFO at Shades of Light, a
lighting and home décor company based
in Midlothian, Va.

Brooke Norton ’21M, AGNP-C, has
joined the gastroenterology and
hepatology team at Guthrie in Sayre
with clinical interests in general
gastroenterology, swallowing disorders,
and irritable bowel syndrome.

Daniel Croall ’15, an officer with the
Winston-Salem, N.C., police department,
was honored with the Life Saving Award
by his department for saving the life of a
man who was shot.
Bryce Foster ’15 is in Europe teaching
English at IES Jaime Ferrán, a high
school near Madrid, Spain.

Marriages

Births

Brianna (Taylor) Morrison ’15 & Ryan
Morrison, a son, Deegan Ronald, March 29

Ray Kowalski ’00 & Chris Kupchik

Kathryn (Guenther) Vagell ’06 & Craig Vagell,
a daughter, Evelyn Catherine Vagell,
Dec. 22, 2020

Michael ’15 & Jesseca ’11 (Whitenight)
John, a daughter, Erica Carol, April 5

Maria Pettinato Bozzo ’13 & Mark Bozzo
Scott Brown ’14 & Rachel DeFrain Brown ’15
Kylie Vuksanic Dominski ’13
& John Dominski ’14
Lauryn Filipkoski Kobrynich ’10
& Christopher Kobrynich
Jason Oldenbuttel ’16
& Leslie Hess Oldenbuttel
Brittany Cavanaugh Smith ’14 & Sean Smith
Rebecca Zamonas ’16 & Michael DeMarco

Lauren Erdman-Sheeler ’14 & Ben Sheeler,
a daughter, Olive Ann, July 31, 2021
Kimberly (Berger) Golomb ’14 & Jason
Golomb, a son, Matthew William, Feb. 1
Bradley ’10 & Caitlin (Waymire) Fritz,
a daughter, Brynlee Ann, Feb. 4
Amy (Wislock) Shultz ’11 & Peter Shultz,
a son, Aaron Joseph, Feb. 4
Jay ’07 & Ashley ’09 Collins,
a daughter, Maeve Beverly, Feb. 8
Nicole (Hoffman) Wenner ’07 & Joshua
Wenner, a son, Kason Ernest, Feb. 15
Tim ’09 & Kristy (King) Sones,
a daughter, Sage Hadleigh, March 10
Jacob ’12 & Kelsey (Bruce) Olsavsky,
a daughter, Eleanor Quinn, March 11

Alissa (Dewalt) Tobias ’15 & Christopher
Tobias, a son, Jaxon Ryan, April 23
Erik ’13 & Kasi (Ristine)Beagle,
a daughter, Amelia Hope, April 27
Weston Brehm ’13 & Jackie ZeisloftBrehm, a son, Ernest Hiram, April 30
Kayla Lynn (Hanley) Huntington ’16
& Tyler Michael Huntington, a son,
Carter Michael, May 4
Anysia Ensslen-Boggs ’05/’07 &
Christopher Boggs, twin sons, Walter
Harold and Peter Joseph, May 10
Lindsey (Allegar) Shultz ’12 & Brett Shultz,
a son, Jamison Taylor, May 19
Caitlin (Tevis) Persico ’11 & Christopher
Persico, a son, Calvin Arthur, May 31

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Summer 2022

Christine Pangelinan
Orlando ’11/’21M has
been named director
of philanthropy for the
Community Giving
foundation in Berwick.
Orlando has been with
the Foundation since
2009, and has held
roles in communication, development,
and grant making. She most recently
served as senior program officer, where
she implemented and facilitated the
grant making, Youth in Philanthropy,
a nonprofit leadership series, and
scholarship programs.

25

HUSKY NOTES

In Memoriam
the United States from Italy and his
mother immigrating from Portugal.
He earned a Master’s Degree of
Education and a Doctorate of Education
from West Virginia University. He served
his country during the Korean War,
stationed in Germany and playing basketball for the United States Army from
1957-59. He married Kay Rosencrance
in 1970 at Bucknell University, where
he was a professor, and later settled in
Bloomsburg where he was a professor at Bloomsburg University and a
prominent real estate developer. He
retired as professor emeritus in 1992
from BU, then focusing on real estate
development.

DONALD
CAMPLESE
Professor Emeritus and
Area Real Estate Developer

Professor Emeritus Donald Anthony
Camplese, 88, of Bloomsburg and
Marco Island, Fla. passed away peacefully on April 16. He embodied the
American dream as a first-generation
American, his father immigrating to

Surviving are his wife Kay, a retired BU
faculty member, son Cole Camplese ’96M
and his wife Kristin, daughter Kitt
Camplese and her husband Steven
Sheldon, son Donn Trenton, son Slade
Camplese, and eight grandchildren.
Celebrations of life will be planned at
a later date for his family and many
friends in Bloomsburg.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Summer 2022

Obituaries

26

Sara Jean Eastman Ortt ’43
Joseph Kulick ’49
Celestine Longo Pekala ’49
Richard Stout ’49
Eleanor Poust Blackwell ’50
Delphine Buss Hamershock ’51
Charles Brennan ’53
Carolyn Yost Karas ’55
Irene Sones Huntsman ’56
Shirley Krum Thomas ’56
James Monaghan ’57
Thomas Reimensnyder ’57
Carl DeFebo ’58
Betty Stiff Laise ’58
A. Paul Franklin ’59
David Hauck ’59
Glenn Henninger ’59
Duane Hunter ’59
Jay Long ’59
Paul Crisler ’60

William Vincent ’60
Mary Ann Kiessling Beasom ’61
Andrew Litavec ’61
Robert Orlandini ’61
Joseph Rishkofski ’61
Robert Vitacco ’61
Bonnie Rice ’62
Donald Poust ’63
Mary Jane Llewellyn ’66
Ruth Fahringer Hicks Nailor ’65
Barbara Nicholls Faust ’65
Rose Chiki ’66
David Conner ’66
Patricia Omara Lobus ’67
Kenneth Brown ’68
Frank Ferrari ’68
Albert Kieski ’68
Thomas Sipe ’68
Robert Ulrich ’69
Frances Arre ’70

Joseph Delinsky ’70
Ildra Mielke ’70
Chester Bayliff ’71
Harold Kistner ’72
Sarah Anne Fellows
Hubler Fallon ’73
Donald Geyer ’73
Donna Marie Petroski ’73
Ruth Ann Russell Stassi ’73
Janet Constantine ’74
Sally Derr McCloskey ’74
Richard Chukonis ’76
Frederick Colyer ’76
George Dauber ’76
Matthew Connell ’77
Robert Zigment ’78
Carol Killheffer Keene ’79
Richard Laubach ’80
Velma Herold Lunger ’80
Pamela Marshall Alex ’81

Barbara Wasmuth Gombert ’82
Gemma Duffy ’83
Daniel English ’85
Anthony Eisenberg ’87
Charles Stoops ’88
Eugene Meek ’90
Susan Weaver ’91
Tammy Zeiber ’95
Christy Lopes Bossley Phillips ’97
Mindy Flegel Rouzer ’97
Amy Hall-Coulbourn ’98
Billy Miller ’99
Robert Williams ’00
Georgia Carinci ’04
Patrice Lyons Rives ’05
Joseph Godish ’06
Meagan Wentz ’10
Timothy Slattery ’14
Jamey Shade ’17

Send information to: magazine@bloomu.edu
Bloomsburg: The University Magazine | Arts and Administration Building | 400 E. Second Street | Bloomsburg, PA 17815-1301

VIEW FROM THE TOP

sports

A TRAINER TO

CHAMPIONS

BU GRADUATE GIVES HELPING HAND TO SUPER BOWL CHAMPS

By Michael Gilger
In the world of athletics, there are few contests that loom larger than the Super Bowl.
Athletic trainer Lawrence Jones ’15M has been a part of the NFL’s biggest show twice.

Jones’ Super Bowl journey began on Danny Hale Field in Redman Stadium in 2014
and 2015, helping BU athletic trainer George Salvaterra treat Husky football players
while he was completing his graduate athletic training program.
“It’s funny, when I began my undergraduate education at Florida Atlantic University
(FAU), I started out as an engineering major. After I went to my first calculus class,
I went right to my adviser to change majors immediately. From there, I transitioned
into more of an exercise science or physiology path,” says Jones.
Following his undergrad at FAU, Jones applied to Bloomsburg for its athletic training
program. A native of New Jersey, Jones knew about Bloomsburg because his family
owned a tree farm in Benton, just over 16 miles from campus.
“I’m extremely grateful for my time at Bloomsburg,” says Jones. “I met a lot of lifelong
friends there and I have to give a big shout out to George Salvaterra. He’s the one
that really sent me down the right path and really got me going in athletic training.”

Bloomsburg
Bloomsburg
University
University
ofof
Pennsylvania
PennsylvaniaSummer
Summer2022
2022

An assistant athletic trainer for the Los Angeles Rams, Jones was on the sidelines
helping players at Super Bowl LVI. It was the second time Jones made an appearance
as part of the athletic training team at a Super Bowl, having joined the Rams staff in
2018 as a seasonal intern. But in 2022, it was different. The Rams left the field
as victors.

27
27

sports

VIEW FROM THE TOP

“He had a huge impact on my life,” says Jones of Salvaterra,
who is still an athletic trainer for the Huskies. “He’s a legend
in the profession. He taught me a lot and is like a father
figure to me. He taught me more than anyone else
in my entire professional career has. I spent two
football seasons with him and he’s really the
one who got me a chance in the league.”
Jones says Salvaterra helped him get a
summer internship with the Philadelphia
Eagles in 2016 and 2017. The internship
began before training camp in mid-July
and lasted through August, giving Jones
some firsthand experience of what it is like
being an athletic trainer for an NFL team
and what it takes to make it in the league.
Having a foot in the door with the Eagles
actually led him to becoming an
expert on feet.
“I was fortunate to be there with their foot and ankle
specialists, and that gave me some good exposure to everything,” says Jones.
Jones was in Philadelphia for his summer internship and was
around the team during the summer before their historic Super
Bowl run in the 2017-18 NFL season. While Jones was not
along for the whole ride, he still cherished the opportunity of
being around the team prior to that season.
“Even though you’re not part of the team and don’t get the
perks like I do now with the Rams, you still feel like you played
some sort of part in it. But I enjoyed their run more as a fan.
Growing up in that area, I was always an Eagles fan, so that
year was special,” he says.
Following his summer internships in Philadelphia, Jones landed
a seasonal internship with the Rams in 2018. The seasonal
internship was a two-year stint that lasted the duration of the

Bloomsburg
Bloomsburg
University
University
ofof
Pennsylvania
PennsylvaniaSummer
Summer2022
2022

Larry Jones with BU trainer George Salvaterra.

28
28

regular seasons and the organization hired him for a full-time
assistant athletic trainer position in 2020, which is
the position Jones now holds with the team.
Jones is one of six full-time assistant athletic
trainers with the Rams, which is led by
Dr. Reggie Scott, the vice president of
sports medicine and performance.
Along with sharing game day
responsibilities, full-time trainers
are delegated into a sort of a
subcategory that is suited to their
expertise. For Jones, he is head
of the foot and ankle committee and
oversees evaluations and research
practices to prevent and treat injuries.
“There are a lot of layers to it for me
specifically. From cleat-surface interaction
and footwear selection to biomechanics
and those type of things,” says Jones.
Jones begins each season evaluating players to determine
their best footwear selections, and that includes using technology
to monitor a field’s firmness based on a variety of variables, such
as the length of a blade of grass. As technology continues to
progress, Jones expects the evolution of his job to evolve as
well. “We have a lot of really cool things coming down the pipe
that we are super excited about.”
With the evolution of athletic training and applicable technology,
very specific aspects of the game are considered to prevent
injuries and allow players to perform at the best of their abilities.
His advice to students graduating today. “Continue to learn,
don’t be afraid to work, and build relationships in your field.
But the biggest thing is to just be ready to work hard.”

That’s the Husky Spirit.

Larry Jones with fellow Los Angeles Rams trainers.

sports

VIEW FROM THE TOP

Chris Bess
SELECTED TO LEAD
MEN’S BASKETBALL

Chris Bess did not travel the traditional
route to becoming Bloomsburg University’s
newest men’s basketball coach. His
journey started playing a different sport.

Edinboro as an assistant coach for the
men’s team. Later, he spent five years an
assistant coach with Edinboro’s highly
successful women’s program.

Initially recruited to play football for Edinboro
University, he walked on to the Fighting
Scots basketball team appearing in 101
games and serving as a team captain for
the 2009-10 season.

“It is a tremendous honor to be chosen
as the next head men’s basketball coach
at Bloomsburg University,” says Bess. “My
family and I are extremely excited and
grateful for the opportunity and cannot
wait to become a part of the Bloomsburg
family. Playing and coaching in the PSAC,
I have always admired Bloomsburg
University and its athletic department. Husky
basketball has such a proud history, and I
am honored to lead this program and these
young men as we push forward and strive
for greatness.”

Off the court, Bess, who graduated with a
bachelor’s degree in finance and a minor in
economics, was chosen to represent Edinboro
at the 2010 NCAA Division II Leadership
Academy. He was a member of the StudentAthlete Advisory Committee, and the recipient
of the 2009 Edinboro University Ebony
Excellence Man of the Year Award.
After graduation, he served as an assistant
coach at his high school alma mater and
was self-employed as a player development
specialist. In that role, he built his network
of contacts on the high school, AAU, and
collegiate levels, which led him back to

As for his coaching philosophy, Bess has
a name for it. “Core Four. Stay versatile;
always compete; grow daily; and serve
others. I believe these principles lead to
success in basketball and life and will serve
as the foundation of our program.”

Jumping Into BU History

Blannard, from Larksville, posted first-place finishes
in the triple jump (11.87m) and long jump (5.75m) at
the PSAC Championships in May to win the award,
which is voted on by the conference coaches. She
became the first BU athlete to win both the long and
triple jump events in the same championship meet
since 2016 when Kaylee Caruso ’17 won both titles.
Blannard’s performance at the outdoor championships
came just two weeks after she shattered a program
record in the triple jump. On senior night at the
Maroon and Gold Invite in Bloomsburg, Blannard
set the record with her jump of 12.14 meters.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Summer 2022

Women’s track and field standout Ashley Blannard
jumped her way to earning the Outstanding Field
Athlete of the Meet Award at the 2022 PSAC Track
and Field Championships.

29

sports

VIEW FROM THE TOP

Defense Leads to Honors

Home Run Kings

Three sports. Three Defensive Player of the
Year honors. Quite a year for the Huskies.

Every baseball player, no matter the age or level of play,
dreams of hitting a home run. Two BU players got to
experience that thrill a record-setting number of times as Kyle
OFier and Ben Newbert each shattered a school home run
record this spring.

Women’s soccer player Natalie Holmes, volleyball’s Alyssa
Cianciulli, and women’s basketball’s Emma Saxton were all
named as the top defensive players in their respective sports
— a rare accomplishment.
BU’s first athlete to receive the postseason award was
Holmes, who led the women’s soccer team to a PSAC title
and a 16-5-2 overall record. Holmes has been a huge factor
in the Huskies’ success over the past four seasons, holding
teams scoreless 14 times and limiting opponents to a total
of 65 shots on goal and 135 total shots this season.
In volleyball, Cianciulli earned the award after leading all
of NCAA Division II in digs per set with an average of 7.00.
Cianciulli’s 749 total digs this year is a program record and
she eclipsed the 2,000-dig mark for her career, finishing
with 2,142 digs in three seasons with the Huskies.
Saxton averaged 1.9 steals per game in addition to 6.2
rebounds per game and a team-leading 13.4 points per
game. She helped the Huskies hold teams under 50 points
in a game nine times.

OFier became the program’s all-time leader in career home
runs when he hit his 38th against Adelphi in mid April. The
homer shattered a 33-year record previously held by former
Major League player Matt Karchner (1986-89). OFier
finished his career with 47 long balls to establish a new record.
Less than two weeks after OFier became the all-time leader in
career home runs, Newbert broke a six-year-old record with his
17th homer of the season against Mansfield, breaking
the BU single-season record. Newbert finished the season
with a PSAC-leading 22 round-trippers. OFier finished second
to Newbert in the PSAC with 19 home runs — the secondbest mark in school history.
In all, Newbert and OFier combined to hit 41 of the team’s
school record 79 home runs this season. Over the last five seasons, the teammates combined for 92 home runs and helped
the Huskies win conference championships in 2019 and 2021.

Bloomsburg
Bloomsburg
University
University
of Pennsylvania
of Pennsylvania
Summer
Summer
2022
2022

Wrestlers Named Scholar All-Americans

30

BU wrestlers Alex Carida and Josh Mason were named 2021-22 Division I
Scholar All-Americans by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA)
for the second straight year.
Mason led the Huskies with a 3.88 GPA in finance while posting a 20-10
overall record and earning a win in the NCAA Championships. The redshirt
junior landed a spot in the national tournament after posting a second-place
finish at 141 pounds at the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Tournament.
His win at the NCAA tournament came through a fall in his opening bout.
Carida was named a Scholar All-American after maintaining a 3.67 GPA in
supply chain management while going 26-10 on the season and 13-1 in dual
matches. The senior also had 11 bonus point wins and was selected as a
NCAA Championships alternate. He finished the season placing fifth at the
MAC Tournament in the 157-pound class.
The two helped the wrestling team post a 9-6 record for the 2021-22 season.

celebrating our Husky history

THEN & NOW

A potential plan for the
east end of campus, with
Centennial at lower left
and a new field house
and athletic field, 1964

A GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
FOR NELSON FIELD HOUSE

By Robert Dunkelberger

This fall marks 50 years since the opening of Nelson Field House and
the start of its 50th season hosting athletics. Yet the field house’s location
on the hill overlooking the campus was not the original plan.

With enrollment growth in the early 1960s, planning began to replace
the gym with a field house for both physical education classes and
intercollegiate athletics. A master plan developed in 1964 designated
a new location for the campus athletic fields — the current site of Andruss
Library — next to which would be a field house near Centennial.
This was the plan until the decision was made not to use the land
on the upper campus, acquired in 1962, for a junior college. With
enrollment projected to grow rapidly for years to come, the majority
of athletic teams would find a home there, while the main campus
was to be the location for academic and student support buildings.
A new master plan was finalized in 1967. With the change in location
to a hillside, the field house had to be redesigned. Further funding
delays pushed groundbreaking to 1970. In August 1972, the field
house was completed, built at a cost of $2.6 million with a gymnasium,
movable bleachers to seat 4,000, a swimming pool, classrooms,
offices, locker rooms, and other athletic facilities.
Elna Harrison Nelson, 1950

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Summer 2022

The first gymnasium opened on (lower) campus in early 1894, a
state-of-the-art facility attached to the dormitory building, later
named Waller Hall. By the 1930s, it was too small and funding was
obtained from the federal government in 1937 to build a modern
gym. Construction began early the following year and Centennial
Gymnasium was dedicated in May 1942.

31

celebrating our Husky history

THEN & NOW

The overflow crowd filling Nelson to watch the wrestling match between the U.S.
and Soviet Olympic teams, Apr. 9, 1975

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Summer 2022

The first athletic event held in the new
field house proved a victory for the
men’s basketball team over West Chester
on Dec. 2, 1972. A full house of 2,800
fans saw the Huskies rout the Rams
79-51. A week later, the wrestling team
defeated Edinboro in its first match in the
new venue. More sports began competing
in the building, with men’s swimming
facing Monmouth College on Dec. 6
and, in the wake of Title IX, the college
added a women’s swim team. The
women’s team’s first meet at the new
pool took place on Feb. 7, 1973, in a
victory over Mansfield.

32

On May 5, 1973, the field house was
dedicated and named for 1911 graduate
Elna Harrison Nelson. He returned to
Bloomsburg in 1924 to head the health
education department, became the first
athletic director, and also coached the
baseball team for many years. Following
his retirement in 1946, Nelson served as
president of the Alumni Association
until his death in 1961.
One sport, women’s basketball, would
take another five years to make it to
Nelson. The team continued to play in
the smaller and cozier Centennial Gym
until the women hosted and defeated
Kutztown 73-61 on Feb. 2, 1978.
Intercollegiate contests were not the
only sporting events held in Nelson. The
facility also hosted international wrestling
exhibitions, most notably one featuring
the Soviet Olympic team. On April 9, 1975,

Archbishop Desmond
Tutu speaking at
commencement in
Nelson, Dec. 14, 1996

it competed against the United States
Olympic squad before an overflow crowd,
filling the bleachers and the floor around
the center mat.

remembered on Dec. 14, 1996, when
South African Archbishop and Nobel
Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu was
the honored commencement speaker.

In addition to athletic events, concerts
too big for the Haas Center have been
staged at Nelson, in the 1970s and 1980s
by big-name acts such as Billy Joel, Hall
and Oates, and Pat Benatar, and in recent
years, rap and hip-hop musicians. Nelson
has also been the site of commencements.
The first ceremony was on May 24, 1973,
with the most prominent and best-

Nelson itself has changed, undergoing
extensive remodeling that concluded
in 2010. An additional sport, women’s
volleyball, now competes there. For 50
years, Nelson has served the Bloomsburg
community, through athletics and
numerous other events, and continues
to be a landmark on the upper campus.

The first women’s swimming team to compete in the Nelson pool, 1973

r
u
o
y
e
m
a
Fr
diploma
in style.
shop in-person or online
400 E. Second Street
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
General Information: 570-389-4175
Customer Service: 570-389-4180
bustore@bloomu.edu

bloomustore.com

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Arts and Administration Building
Bloomsburg University
400 E. Second St.
Bloomsburg, PA 17815-1301

1011050113

CONTINUE YOUR CLIMB
Considering grad school? Consider coming home to Bloomsburg!
Designed to fit your budget and busy life, our affordable, flexible graduate programs
are offered online, in-person, or hybrid.

YOUR ONWARD AND UPWARD AWAITS!

bloomu.edu/gradschool
A NOTE TO PARENTS

WANT TO UNSUBSCRIBE?

RECEIVING DUPLICATE COPIES?

If this issue of Bloomsburg: The
University Magazine is addressed
to a daughter or son who has
established a separate residence,
please notify us of that new
address by sending an email to:
magazine@bloomu.edu

If you no longer wish to
receive the print edition of the
magazine, please notify us by
sending an email to:
magazine@bloomu.edu

If you are receiving more than one copy of
Bloomsburg: The University Magazine, please forward
the mailing label panel from each issue you receive to:
Bloomsburg: The University Magazine
Arts and Administration Building
400 E. Second Street
Bloomsburg, PA 17815-1301

FA LL 20 22

The

Transformative
Power of Education
From our founding to our future, we look at
nearly 200 years of education at Bloomsburg
Page 10

ALSO INSIDE

Homecoming 2022
Our alumni return to campus
Page 6

A Partnership in
Water Ecology
Page 8

bloomu.edu

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Transformation. Across higher education,
that word carries a host of meanings. Our Fall
magazine focuses on the transformative power
of education—a topic I’ve been thinking a lot
about the past few months. Our institutions have
undergone many changes, positioning us to
continue our mission of educating tomorrow’s
leaders. Perhaps what’s most striking when
considering the transformation we’re currently
undertaking is that this process of evolution is not
new to our institution. In fact, taken together with
our mission of serving students and placing their
needs at the center of all we do, it may be the one
constant in our history.
Our cover story takes a deep dive into our past
while looking to the future of teacher education.
Bloomsburg, like all of Pennsylvania’s State System
universities, began as a Normal School with a
mission to educate the commonwealth’s future
teachers. As we boldly reimagine public higher
education in Pennsylvania in order to continue the
legacies of our centuries-old universities, there is
much to learn from examining our history. A lot
has changed in the world and in the ways we
deliver and experience education. But innovation, progress, evolution—those have remained central to who we are.
Our highest aspiration as educators has always been to change lives. To make a difference. That’s the power of education.
That word, transformation, doesn’t just denote the shifts happening across institutions. It’s most meaningful when
viewed through the lens of our students and their experiences. What we hope for them is that education will serve
as a transformational force in their lives. Many of our students are first-generation. The skills, knowledge, and
career preparation they gain in their time with us is life changing. It’s why we have a responsibility to offer them an
affordable education and the goal of allowing them to graduate ready to begin a career without financial burden.
In these pages you will read about one of the ways we’re putting this promise to our students into action through
partnership agreements with 50 Pennsylvania school districts in the communities our campuses call home. These
agreements guarantee admission, merit-based scholarships, and on-campus housing to qualified students in our
backyard—ensuring they have access to an affordable, high-quality education close to home.
As we enter the holiday season, I wish you and your families all the comforts this time of year brings. I want to thank
you for your ongoing support of our students and their goals—you are a key partner in ensuring our students have
the resources and mentorship to achieve their professional goals. I hope you enjoy this issue of The Bloomsburg
University magazine and wish you a wonderful holiday.
Sincerely,
Dr. Bashar W. Hanna,
President

Fall 2022

6

8

10

15

22

24

Contents
2 COMMON GROUND

16

DONOR IMPACT

6 HOMECOMING 2022

18

HUSKY NOTES

8 A PARTNERSHIP IN WATER ECOLOGY

22

ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME

24

THEN & NOW

10 THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF EDUCATION
15 ALUMNI SOCIALS FOSTER STUDENT

CONNECTIONS

Connect with us

bloomu.edu
Commonwealth University
Council of Trustees
John Wetzel ’98, Chair
Karen Russell, Vice Chair
Michael Hanna Jr., Secretary
Daniel Elby, Trustee at Large
Amy Brayford ’91
Krystjan Callahan
Steven Crawford
Patrick Henderson
Susan Kefover
Brian O’ Donnell ’87
Karen Russell
Angela Smith
Ray Zaborney ’16
Chancellor,
State System of
Higher Education
Daniel Greenstein

President,
Commonwealth
University
Bashar W. Hanna
Executive Editor
Elizabeth Arnold
Editorial Board
Jennifer Umberger
Tom McGuire
Julie Stellfox
Eric Foster
Doug Spatafore
Lynda Michaels
Ashley Koser
Andrea O’Neill
Tom Schaeffer
John Vitale
Dawn Wooster
Designer
Kerry Lord

Contributing Writers
Tom McGuire
Eric Foster
Andrea O’Neil
Tom Schaeffer
Julie Stellfox
Doug Spatafore
Mary Raskob
Robert Dunkelberger

Bloomsburg: The University Magazine is published two times
a year for alumni, students’ families, and friends of the university
Back issues may be found at issuu.com/buhuskies.
Address comments and questions to:
Bloomsburg: The University Magazine
Arts and Administration Building
400 East Second Street
Bloomsburg, PA 17815-1301
Email address: magazine@bloomu.edu
Visit Bloomsburg University on the web at bloomu.edu.

On the Cover:
A 1938 education class
held in Carver Hall.

Bloomsburg University is an AA/EEO institution and is accessible
to disabled persons. Bloomsburg University does not discriminate
on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation,
gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, or
veteran status in its programs and activities as required by Title
IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable
statutes and University policies.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Fall 2022

Pennsylvania’s State System
of Higher Education
Board of Governors
Cynthia D. Shapira, Chair
David M. Maser, Vice Chair
Samuel H. Smith, Vice Chair
Robert W. Bogle
Representative Tim Briggs
Tanya I. Garcia, Designee for
Secretary of Education
William “Bill” Gindlesperger
Allison Jones, Designee for
Governor Tom Wolf
Daniel Klingerman ’87
Senator Scott Martin
Marian D. Moskowitz
Acting Secretary of Education
Eric Hagarty
Representative Brad Roae
Alexander C. Roberts
Senator Judith L. Schwank
Zakariya Scott
Larry C. Skinner
Skylar Walder
Neil R. Weaver
Governor Tom Wolf
Janet L. Yeomans

© Bloomsburg University 2022

1

news on campus

COMMON GROUND

Academic Leadership Team Set to Lead

(CEHS) and Dr. Leo-Felix M. Jurado as
the founding Dean of the College of
Health Professions (CHP).
“I look forward to supporting, growing, and
advancing academics, research, and service
in education and human studies, a diverse
student body, student services, commitment
to students’ personalized education
through quality real-life experiences, and
key academic priorities and initiatives
including strengthening current quality
programs and developing new pathways
for regional and community,” Larson said.

Dr. Kara Shultz

Dr. Ann Elizabeth Larson

As part of the Commonwealth University
academic structure several individuals have
been hired to lead the new integrated
university.
Dr. Kara Shultz has been named as the
Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education
and Dean of the Honors College.
“Many of our high-performing students
come to college with a large number
of credits already earned through AP

Dr. Leo-Felix M. Jurado

and early college courses,” Shultz said.
“In support of this we are designing a
program that will enhance the learning
experiences of our most motivated students,
while allowing them to design their honors
college program to fit their needs”
Two new deans have also been added to
the academic leadership team. Dr. Ann
Elisabeth Larson is the inaugural Dean of the
College of Education and Human Studies

“I am committed to supporting the
integrated university’s strategic initiatives
especially in fostering student success and
career readiness; promoting academic
innovation, excellence, and expansion;
and advocating for diversity, equity, and
inclusion in all areas,” Jurado said. “I
envision seeing more interprofessional
education to promote interdisciplinary
collaboration; faculty-student scholarly
partnerships; faculty-student-alumni civic,
community, and professional engagement;
and establishing a stronger alliance with
healthcare networks in the region.”

CGA Executive
Board Named

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Fall 2022

The 2022-23 executive board for the
Community Government Association
(CGA) of Bloomsburg, part of
Commonwealth University, has been
announced. The CGA oversees various
areas including: Community Activities,
Kehr Union Building, University Store,
Student Recreation Center, and the
Honeysuckle Student Apartments.

2

The president is Sabina Bower; Matthew
Yurkunas, vice president; Brandon
Ikeler, treasurer; and Kayla Kinney,
secretary. Melannie Egan is serving
as the executive assistant; Marina
Patterson, historian; and Lia Killoran,
parliamentarian.
Among the many activities planned and
hosted by the CGA is the group’s largest
event, the “Big Event,” held in spring
where over 1,000 students descend on
the Town of Bloomsburg to help local
residents with various clean-up projects
at their homes.
From left, Kayla Kinney, Sabina Bower, Matthew Yurkunas, and Brandon Ikeler.

news on campus

From left: Commonwealth University Provost and Senior Vice President Dr. Diana RogersAdkinson; Commonwealth University President Dr. Bashar Hanna; Danville School District
Interim Superintendent Harry Mathias; Danville School District High School Principal
Jeremy Winn ‘00/M’09.

CommonwealthU President Dr. Bashar Hanna
with Reading Area Community College
President Dr. Susan Looney.

Community Scholars Programs Lend Access
and Affordability to Region’s Students

Community College
Partnerships Create
Pathways for Success

Agreements guaranteeing admission and up to $28,000 in merit-based scholarships,
as well as on-campus housing at any location, were recently signed with 50 school
districts from Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania.
The agreements guarantee admission for qualified graduates who enroll in a
bachelor’s degree program.
Graduates will be eligible for four tiers of academic merit scholarships according to
the following academic preparedness of the student applicant:

TIER 1
95% or above
or 3.8 to 4.0 cumulative GPA:
$28,000; $7,000 annually
TIER 2
90-94% or above
or 3.5 to 3.79 cumulative GPA:
$24,000; $6,000 annually
TIER 3
85-89% or above or 3.0 to
3.49 cumulative GPA:
$16,000; $4,000 annually
TIER 4
80-84% or above
or 2.5 to 2.99 cumulative GPA:
$12,000; $3,000 annually

All scholarship recipients must remain
enrolled full-time at Commonwealth
University for a minimum of 12 credits
per academic semester and maintain
an overall GPA of 2.50 to remain in
good academic standing.
The scholarship is renewable for up
to four academic years, or eight
consecutive fall and spring academic
semesters.
On-campus housing will be guaranteed
for up to four years of full-time
student enrollment.
“These agreements signify the power
of partnership to make a significant
impact in the lives of our region’s
students. We are fortunate to have
academically talented and driven
high school students in our region
who will thrive as Huskies, Bald Eagles,
and Mounties. We look forward to
welcoming them to our campuses,”
said Bashar W. Hanna, President.

Commonwealth University leaders swiftly
developed key partnerships with community
colleges throughout the region. The
newly established agreements embody
CommonwealthU’s mission to provide
life-changing education access to
Pennsylvania’s future leaders—ensuring
they can pursue their academic and
professional goals unencumbered by
concerns about affordability.
The creation of Guaranteed Transfer
Admissions Agreements with multiple
community colleges across the state
guarantee graduates of the partner
community college full junior-level
standing at Commonwealth University.
The agreements offer four tiers of
guaranteed scholarship awards based
on the students’ academic performance
at community college. The renewable
scholarship is awarded for up to $5,000
per year.
Community College Partnerships
• Harrisburg Area Community College
• Lehigh Carbon Community College
• Luzerne County Community College
• Northern Pennsylvania Regional College
• Reading Area Community College
• 5 Additional agreements pending

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Fall 2022

COMMON GROUND

3

news on campus

COMMON GROUND

Hanna Appointed to Tuition Account Program Advisory Board
Treasurer Stacy Garrity, a 1986 graduate
of Bloomsburg University, oversees the
PA 529 program.

PA State Treasurer Stacy Garrity ‘86
with President Bashar Hanna

Dr. Bashar W. Hanna, president of
Commonwealth University has been
appointed to serve on Pennsylvania’s
Tuition Account Program (TAP) Advisory
Board by Gov. Tom Wolf. Hanna’s
appointment runs until September 2026.
The board advises on the work of the
Pennsylvania 529 College Savings
Program, which provides families with
a tax-advantaged way to help save for
their children’s higher education. State

“I am honored by Governor Wolf’s
appointment to serve on the Tuition
Account Program Advisory Board,”
Hanna said. “The PA 529 program is
one of the most worthwhile programs
offered by the state and assists families
with paying college tuition. The mission
of the 529 program matches the
mission of Commonwealth University,
which is to provide a world class,
financially responsible degree option
that maximizes experiential learning,
career preparation, and efficient time to
graduation. I look forward to working
with such a distinguished group of
individuals, including Treasurer Garrity.”
PA 529 accounts are designed to help
Pennsylvania families steadily and
strategically save for future educational

expenses. The PA 529 Guaranteed
Savings Plan allows families to save at
today’s tuition rates to meet tomorrow’s
tuition costs. More than 276,000 PA
529 accounts are open, with over $6
billion saved for future education. Over
the program’s more than 30 years, it
has helped families pay for more than
$5 billion in qualified higher education
expenses.
“I’m excited to have Dr. Hanna join
the TAP Advisory Board,” Treasurer
Garrity said. “He will bring a unique and
important perspective to the board with
his vast experience in higher education,
his proven dedication to helping
students, and his lifelong passion for
teaching. As we continue to make the PA
529 College and Career Savings Program
work better for all Pennsylvanians, Dr.
Hanna will be a strong voice in support
of students and their families.”

Languages and Cultures Department Partners
with ROTC for Russian Language Program

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Fall 2022
Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Fall 2022

Bloomsburg’s Languages and Cultures
Department has partnered with the Army
ROTC program at the Lock Haven campus
of Commonwealth University, to earn a
Project Global Officer (Project GO) grant
for programming in the Russian language
for ROTC cadets. Commonwealth
University is one of only 12 institutions
nationwide that received the highly
selective and competitive grant.

44

Commonwealth University received a
total grant of nearly $357,000 per year,
renewable for three years, to help
promote critical language education,
offer domestic and overseas language
and cultural immersion, and intercultural
exposure to its ROTC cadets through
Project GO. CommonwealthU is one of
only two programs in the Northeastern
region of the U.S. that is offering Russian.
The program is a hybrid of domestic and
overseas instruction and experiences
will be held at the Bloomsburg campus
as well as Riga, Latvia. All fees and
expenses for cadets accepted into the
program are paid in full by the grant,

including all travel, accommodations
and tuition costs, and students will earn
12 credits upon completion.
“Students have language requirements
and this is an opportunity for them to
meet that requirement, as well as have
an opportunity to travel abroad and
gain some professional development
experience,” said Dr. Mykola Polyuha,
Russian language professor and chair
of the Department of Languages and
Cultures at Commonwealth University.
Polyuha was a driving force behind
the grant proposal and application for
Commonwealth University. Students
accepted into the program will take
advantage of Bloomsburg’s strong
Russian and East European studies
program, the largest Russian program
among State System schools and one
of the largest in the state. The University
also has a history of organizing successful
faculty-led trips to Eastern and Central
Europe and collaborating with the
Institute of International Education.

Audiology Doctoral
Students from Bloomsburg
Volunteer at Special
Olympics
Audiology doctoral students from
CommonwealthU Bloomsburg
participated in the Special Olympic
Summer Games this summer in State
College. After a two-year pause due
to the pandemic, the Special Olympics
Pennsylvania Summer Games were
held at Penn State University in State
College from June 2-4. The event
attracted more than 2,000 athletes
and 750 coaches from across the state
to compete in aquatics, athletics,
basketball, bowling, equestrian, golf,
gymnastics, softball, and tennis.

news on campus

COMMON GROUND

Shawver Named
Dean of the Year

The USCA Outstanding Dean Award was
established to recognize a dean who
has made significant contributions and
demonstrated unwavering support of a
USCA member’s sales program.
Shawver was nominated for the award
by ZCOB faculty member Dr. Monica
Favia. “In my nomination, I highlighted
Dr. Shawver’s help in establishing
the Professional Sales Center and his
continued efforts to secure resources,
corporate sponsors, and additional
sales faculty,” Favia said. She also noted
that Shawver is actively engaged with
students, the sales team, the sales
center’s advisory board, and is a valued
supporter of sales education.
“Recognition by the University Sales
Center Alliance is an amazing honor,”

Shawver said. “Receiving a nomination
by our faculty and students is an honor,
but being awarded as Outstanding Dean
is a complete surprise to me, and I am
very humbled. I am proud to be able to
support our professional sales program
and our Professional Sales Center in the
Zeigler College of Business.”
“This recognition is not possible without
the hard-working and dedicated
professional sales and marketing faculty
who have made the professional sales
major, the only program of its kind in
Pennsylvania, one of the top programs in
the country,” Shawver added.
“Congratulations to Dr. Shawver on being
recognized as the Outstanding Dean
for 2022 by the University Sales Center
Alliance,” said Bashar W. Hanna, President.
“Todd’s support for our students and

faculty and his unwavering support
for the professional sales major makes
him a remarkable Dean. He has truly
transformed the Zeigler College of
Business into a recognized leader in
higher education and this award is well
deserved.”
Shawver was named Dean of the Terry
and JoAnn Zeigler College of Business
in 2019. As Dean, Shawver is building on
a long-standing tradition of academic
excellence in a variety of business degree
programs and related initiatives. He is
responsible, in collaboration with the
faculty, for enhancing existing programs,
supporting student success, leading
accreditation efforts with the Association
to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
(AACSB), and working to identify emerging
areas of growth.

White Coat
Ceremony Held
The eighth annual White Coat
Ceremony was held by the Bloomsburg
Department of Nursing on Sept. 17, at
the Haas Center for the Arts on campus.
The White Coat Ceremony celebrates
sophomore nursing students who are
entering the next phase of their
education.
In all, 126 students pledged their
commitment to quality patient care.
The most important element of the
ceremony is the oath that students
take in front of family members,
faculty, school leaders, and peers.
Bloomsburg was among the first
100 schools to hold such a ceremony,
supported by the Arnold P. Gold
Foundation.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Fall 2022

Zeigler College of Business (ZCOB) Dean,
Dr. Todd Shawver, was named the 2022
Outstanding Dean by the University
Sales Center Alliance (USCA). Shawver
received his award at the group’s USCA
fall meeting on Sept. 30, at Weber State
in Ogden, Utah.

5

HOMECOMING 2022

Blue skies and smiles abounded as
Huskies of all ages reconnected for
homecoming weekend, Oct. 21 and 22.
A large group of alumni and their
families gathered on lower campus for
the annual tent party Saturday and were
entertained by the cheerleading squad
and Roongo.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Fall 2022

The Class of 1972 held a 50th reunion
on Friday. On Saturday morning, university
archivist Robert Dunkelberger gave a
guided tour of campus, highlighting
the many changes as the tree-lined
walkways blazed maroon and gold in
peak fall color.

6

At the football game halftime, Eric Verno
’98, a 6th-grade math and science teacher
at Dallastown Area School District, and his
wife Devon were honored as their daughter
Novalea’s winning essay was read.
The Homecoming Royalty Court winners
were also named at halftime with
Kimberly Speece ’24, a business education
major and member of the Army National
Guard, being named Queen.

7

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Fall 2022

FEATURE

A PARTNERSHIP

inWater

Ecology
By Eric Foster

Students collect samples
on a lake for Professor
Stephen Rier’s class.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Fall 2022

In a move that wouldn’t have been possible without integration, five Commonwealth
University faculty members, representing each of the main campuses are collaborating
to create a Watershed Ecology Center. In addition to creating a resource to help preserve
Pennsylvania watersheds, this future Center of Excellence expands students’ research
opportunities and career networks.

8

Dr. Daniel Spooner has students collect samples from a stream.

Dr. Steven Rier

Pennsylvania has the
second highest density
of streams in the entire
country next to Alaska
and there’s a range
of conditions of the
streams — from super
pristine and rich to
systems that have been
seriously impacted.
We’ve got this natural
laboratory right here.
We can not only do
research and understand
it better, but we can also
educate our students so
they understand how
ecosystems should work
and how humans have
impacted them.
– DR. STEVEN RIER,
Professor of Biology, Bloomsburg

Seiler was joined in his efforts by Lock
Haven biology colleagues Drs. Heather
Bechtold and Daniel Spooner. With the
integration of Bloomsburg, Mansfield,
and Lock Haven as Commonwealth
University, they were joined by Dr. Steven
Rier, professor of biology at Bloomsburg,
and Dr. Gregory Moyer, associate
professor of biology at Mansfield. In
addition to representing a variety of
campuses, the faculty bring a variety of
specializations to the Center. Bechtold
specializes in contaminants and algae,
Rier specializes in algae and microbial
ecology; Seiler is an expert on fish and
invasive species; Moyer focuses on fish
and conservation genetics; and Spooner
is an expert on freshwater mussels.
Water ecology is particularly relevant
to Pennsylvania. “Pennsylvania has the
second highest density of streams in the
entire country next to Alaska,” says Rier.
“And there’s a range of conditions of
the streams — from super pristine and
rich to systems that have been seriously
impacted. We’ve got this natural
laboratory right here. We can not only
do research and understand it better,
but we can also educate our students
so they understand how ecosystems
should work and how humans have
impacted them.”
“The idea is to give students experience
with hands-on skills so that they are
easily employed,” says Dr. Bechtold.
“Before they leave our campuses if they
have experience electroshocking or
taking water samples, or if they know
those sorts of methodologies, agencies
are going to scoop them up real fast.”

“Once students have their own kind
of projects and participate in these
research activities, there’s more buyin from the student in terms of their
own education,” says Spooner. “I have
students whom I’ve done research with
and now they find really interesting
articles and bring them to me. They
own their own science.”
In addition to involving students in
research on their home campuses, they
also envision having students work
together across campuses, particularly
during summers. Dozens of students
are involved in research courses and
projects at each campus every semester.
And this fall faculty have begun interacting
with students across campuses.
“Steve Rier had me join a committee for
one of his master’s degree students,”
says Bechtold. “That’s an opportunity
for me to help shape the student’s
project and get involved in the creeks
and streams near Bloomsburg.”
“Connections and networking are
an important part of getting a job,”
Bechtold added. “With our connections
across the campuses, we have a large
network where we can place students.
We’ve tripled the network of any given
student on any given campus. We
can let our contacts know about our
students, what their interests are, and
they will get hired.”

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Fall 2022

“About five years ago, we were noticing
a bit of burnout in the students who
were not getting to do what they wanted
for careers related to water, water
conservation and ecology in general,”
says Dr. Steven Seiler, professor of biology
at Lock Haven. “So, we developed
coursework and did a lot of small research
projects with freshmen and sophomores,
that would continue until the time they
graduated, just to get them excited,
engaged, and retained. We like to include
students on our research projects with
agencies and conservation groups like
Trout Unlimited and the PA Fish and Boat
Commission to build connections to
future job opportunities.”

9

FEATURE

1978

1996

S T U D E N T S F I R S T: A H I S T O RY O F

TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATION
By Andrea O’ Neill and Elizabeth Arnold

B

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Fall 2022

eginning with Ben Franklin’s
library system well before the
United States even existed, there
has never been a shortage of education
innovation in Pennsylvania. In 1834,
Thaddeus Stevens championed a bill
that established a public school system
in the commonwealth. The resulting
demand for teachers created the
foundation for Pennsylvania’s State
System of Higher Education (PASSHE)
130 years later. Today, three of those
schools have integrated to form
Commonwealth University and continue
that tradition of innovation.

10

The PA Normal School Act of 1857
originally established 12 teaching, or
“normal” schools that would set the
“norm” for teacher education in the
coming centuries. Normal Schools
were designed primarily for teacher
education and were considered the
most affordable option for working
class students at the time. By 1927, PA
Normal Schools had all been purchased
by the state, renamed State Teacher’s
Colleges, and given authority to grant
bachelor’s degrees. Nearly 30 years
later in 1960, they were again renamed
as State Colleges with the ability to confer
advanced degrees. On July 1, 1983, the
now 14 former Normal Schools became
full universities under the umbrella of
PASSHE. These institutions of higher

education have been evolving and growing
ever since; adding new majors and using
new methods, expanding and contracting
to meet the needs of their students.
And while the strict and rigid rules upheld
in the 19th century would be challenged,
shaped and relaxed by the world around
them, the goal of providing an affordable
education to Pennsylvania’s students has
not. First year students are no longer
required to wear beanies. Men are no
longer required to wear a jacket and tie
to dinner, and women are allowed to
wear shorts to class. Today’s students are
no longer forbidden “amusements, visits
of pleasure, [and] noise” on Sundays and
rather than study penmanship and
elocution, they major in digital forensics
and instructional technology.
Over time, PASSHE institutions like
Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield
have hosted speakers like Booker T.
Washington and Susan B. Anthony,
and performers such as Billy Joel, and
Johnny Mathis. They’ve educated a vast
array of professionals, including four
PA governors and, since 1987 20,000
teachers who have impacted the lives of
more than 500,000 students. They’ve
adapted to social and technological
changes and most recently, a worldwide
pandemic. From paper catalogues to
mainframes and servers, from cable
to wireless, and desks to Zoom,

educational and social traditions have
changed dramatically. So too have the
needs of students as they not only
become teachers, but also scientists,
graphic designers, cyber security
professionals, accountants, nurses,
writers, and financial advisers. And
while faculty are no longer called
“professors of pedagogy,” the goal is
the same: to provide Pennsylvania’s
students an entry into a profession
that will elevate them and their families
to a secure and stable future.
Which leads us to question—what is
“normal” anyway when taking a look
at nearly 200 years of education and
education preparation in the United
States and Pennsylvania?

1978

FROM OUR FOUNDING TO OUR FUTURE:

Looking Ahead with Dean Ann Larson
We need teachers. Now more than ever. Sitting down with Dr. Ann Larson,
Dean for Commonwealth University’s College of Education and Human
Studies, it’s clear that she’s passionate about the field of education. “I want to
share with young people that teaching is the profession of all professions,” she
said. “Our three universities share a rich history of education as a bedrock of
civic education and democracy.”
Look back nearly 200 years and follow the course of our evolution as institutions
and you’ll see teacher education at the core. With that focus came a pioneering
spirit for innovation and cutting-edge programs and practices that have worked
to propel the field of education forward through the decades.

1980s

In our cover image, taken from a Carver Hall teacher education classroom in
1938, the first question on the board points to student-centered education.
The New Education as the lesson is deemed asks, “Will your school be child
centered?” Perhaps the answer to what is normal is just that—the one
constant through decades of education. Are we putting students first? Are we
preparing them for lives of meaning and success in their profession?
As educators, it’s a question we’re still asking today and it’s what’s driving our
mission to remain relevant for today’s students and generations to come.
So many young people today have a calling to make the world a better place.
It’s a mission that’s carried our universities through nearly two centuries of
transformative education—empowering students to earn the skills necessary
to make a difference in the world. Take a look at the faces of the men and
women in our cover photo as they sit intent on the words of their instructor.
It’s safe to bet that they wanted to make a real difference in the lives of the
students in their classrooms—to inspire greatness in their pupils.

Larson has spent her career in education, beginning as a classroom teacher
for middle and high school English and Language Arts. After earning a Ph.D. in
Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Policy Studies, she went on to the
University of Louisville where she served for nearly three decades as a faculty
leader and administrator.
“At CommonwealthU, I saw three universities with strong reputations for
education. Integration presented an opportunity to be part of building something
new and to serve as a model for the transformations that are certain to take
place in colleges and universities across the country,” said Larson.

1980

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Fall 2022

1992

Larson’s excitement for moving the college into the future and equipping
students to embrace their calling is grounded in a respect for the schools’ long
and successful histories of teacher preparation. “Each school has a solid heart
and foundation with diverse programs. I’m eager to build on their legacies and
continue recruiting teachers to our programs,” she shared.

11

Cathy Zavacki ‘99 presented a workshop on kinesthetic education for
education majors at the Aspiring Educators Conference held on
campus in September. The conference, sponsored by the Student
PSEA, attracted 60 students.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Fall 2022

Recognizing and rising to meet workforce
needs has proven central to the University’s
mission. Even before the pandemic,
teacher shortages have garnered
headlines. According to a national survey
by Education Week, nearly 75% of
principals and district officials said they
did not have applicants to fill open
positions going into the 2022-2023
school year. While the pandemic seemed
to exacerbate the rate of teachers
leaving the profession, the reasons for
nationwide shortages are complicated
and highly dependent on location,
institutional support, and demographics.
“We know since the pandemic that
workforce needs have profoundly and
urgently changed. There are shortages
in all areas. It’s crucial that our teacher
candidates are strongly prepared in all
disciplines,” said Larson

12

Commonwealth U’s unique charge to
focus on building workforce development
programs is one way that the College of
Education is poised to meet the growing
workforce demand while addressing the
complexity of current issues. According
to Larson, employing a range of strategies
to reach and educate future teachers
will prove key. Teacher education is now
a registered apprenticeship with the
Department of Labor. “We need to have
a portfolio of pathways for certification,”
Larson said. “Traditional routes are
important, but so too are alternative
routes to teacher preparation through
models including compressed programs
and apprenticeships that allow students
to be employed while taking courses.”
She went on to say, “Developing and
launching those programs while following

licensure and Pennsylvania Department
of Education requirements will allow us
to be part of the movement to continue
transforming education. Workforce
initiatives won’t supplant our traditional
programs, but will enhance our array and
allow more pathways for teachers to
enter the profession and receive highquality preparation.”

The education of our
future leaders is important.
We have a responsibility
to deliver high quality,
cutting-edge programs that
produce classroom-ready
teachers who are prepared
to meet students’ needs
and foster a lifelong love
for learning.
– DR. ANN LARSON,
Dean, College of Education and Human Studies,
Commonwealth University

“Teacher education has to be responsive,”
Larson added. “We’re already looking
at ways to partner with school districts
and create apprenticeship programs
where students don’t need to drop out
of the workforce to become certified
to teach.” Larson is encouraged by the
ongoing work of alumni teachers and

the ways they’re embracing innovation
to meet students’ needs. She said,
“We have deep traditions and a strong
alumni base who have long careers as
master teachers, principals, counselors,
and superintendents. They are our best
ambassadors to recruit new students to
our programs and to the profession.”
“The demands on teachers are a lot,”
she said. “It takes a broad spectrum
of knowledge and skills to be a great
teacher. Children have complex lives and
issues. They come to us facing issues
of poverty with complex social and
emotional learning needs. As teachers,
we have to understand how to help
students with those needs. It’s why
understanding human development
along with technology is so important to
our teachers meeting the demands they’ll
face in the in the classroom.”
“The education of our future leaders
is important,” said Larson. “We have a
responsibility to deliver high quality,
cutting-edge programs that produce
classroom-ready teachers who are
prepared to meet students’ needs and
foster a lifelong love for learning.”
Amazingly, in nearly 200 years of
education and transformation, our
mission has remained constant. Perhaps
transformation rests at the heart of that
fact—when institutions embrace change
and rise to meet the challenges of their
time, students and their aspirations
remain central. Our students have always
come to us eager to make a difference
in the world. Together we will continue
forging new paths for innovation and
empower our students to do the same.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE:

Alumni Teachers Embrace Innovation in the Classroom

Dedicated to ‘All Kids Can Learn’
By Eric Foster
Cathy Zavacki ’99 (Bloomsburg) may teach
chemistry in the Hillsborough (N.J.) School
District “But my joy is being a teacher and
teaching students how to learn. I just do it
through Chemistry,” she said. “My passion
is inclusion and including all students of all
abilities, and the idea that all kids can learn. I
use the hashtag ‘All Kids Can Learn’ on Twitter.”
Her message is gaining traction among fellow
educators. Zavacki’s honors include 2019
New Jersey Coalition for Inclusion Education
Teacher of the Year, 2017 Excellence in High
School Teaching winner for the ACS Division
of Chemical Education Middle Atlantic Region,
and 2016 Outstanding High School Chemistry
Teacher from Princeton and Trenton Sections
of the American Chemical Society.
“My favorite students are the ones who don’t
believe in themselves. When they walk in

your room, they’re already head down. They
say, ‘I’m not good at science,’” says Zavacki,
who is a member of the Bloomsburg Alumni
Association Board. “One year, I had a girl
who at the end of the year said, ‘you believed
in me more than I believed in myself.’ ”
For nearly the past 15 years, Zavacki’s secret
weapon in the classroom has been kinesthetic
education, a method in which students move
during lessons instead of sitting. For example,
they may be asked to stand and step left or
right to indicate the answer to questions.
“No matter their academic ability, every
student is engaged. Every student interacted
with each other,” says Zavacki, who teaches
graduate courses on kinesthetic education.
“We are creatures that are meant to move. It
creates a sense of belonging.”

Empowering Students to
Understand The Why and How
“Teachers are not the owners of knowledge,”
says Chris Grouzes ’07 (Lock Haven), an
English, communications, and theatre
teacher at Rose Tree Media School
District and a 2023 Pennsylvania Teacher
of the Year nominee.
“The task of the teacher has changed—it’s
more important to teach media literacy.
Students live in a world where they can
find information at their fingertips,” Grouzes
said. “My job is to help them filter it. Just
because you have access to information
doesn’t mean you’re an expert in
navigating that information.”
Grouzes first attended Lock Haven for
journalism. While taking a Spanish class,
one of his fellow students was on the
“struggle bus.” “I helped him and that was
my first taste of an ‘I got it’ moment.” A
job at the campus writing center further
validated education as a career for Grouzes.
Grouzes understands students’
struggles. He’s been there himself. In

high school, he struggled to memorize
his lines for school plays and discovered
he had ADHD. In the Advanced Tutoring
Network (advancedtutoringnetwork.
com) forum that he founded, Grouzes
also helps coach other adults in working
with ADHD. “I work with adults as well
and give them permission to be weird
or different,” he said. “The atmosphere
is ‘here’s why your brain works the way
it does.’ That experience validated that I
care deeply for the art of teaching, the
science of teaching. The people part of it.”
“My teaching philosophy is always
progressing,” says Grouzes. “I really like
to help the people around me break
down the barrier between teacher and
student. Students are internet natives.
They don’t know a world where they
can’t find the fact online.” Technology
has made today’s students “a lot more
socially aware, in terms of society
and their friends,” says Grouzes. He
emphasizes the need to see students

as individuals. “Students aren’t walking
scores or grades,” he added. “They are
people with specific experiences.”

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Fall 2022

By Eric Foster

13

MAKING A DIFFERENCE:

Alumni Teachers Embrace Innovation in the Classroom

Impacting a Community
through Education
By Eric Foster
Brendan Cregan ’89 (Mansfield) never envisioned becoming
a school administrator. “I’ve always liked school,” says Cregan,
secondary principal at Hempfield School District. “As a student,
I only missed one day in four years of high school. I liked the
camaraderie. I liked the teachers, even in the classes in which
I didn’t do well.”
This made education a natural fit for Cregan. For college, he
chose Mansfield, one of the campuses of Commonwealth
University, after visiting his older sister, who was studying
education. “Everybody was genuinely friendly. My three
sisters and a brother graduated from Mansfield, and two
became teachers.”
“I could have never done the big school scene. The smaller
setting was exactly what I needed,” says Cregan, president of
Mansfield’s Alumni Association Board. “At Mansfield, I learned
that the details matter—when you’re preparing a lesson and
when you’re meeting with parents. In my role as principal,
the details matter.”
“I taught social studies for 10 years. It was always about
building relationships with students and helping them find
the best path for themselves,” he said. “It wasn’t about the
content. It was about the student. I was teaching students.
You’re using the content to teach the person.”
The importance of building relationships has been a
cornerstone of his career. “It’s very easy to get stuck behind
your desk, to get away from being involved. Even as an
administrator, I try to spend as much time in the hallways and
classrooms as I can,” Cregan said.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Fall 2022

“In administration, you’re trying to make a change in the
‘who’ system to help students. Each step impacts a different
level of the community,” says Cregan. “They’ve all had
different rewards. As a principal, I get to see a broader
spectrum of what students do.”

14

Focus on Curriculum and Community Partnerships
Partnerships with school districts and enrollment growth,
along with establishing new curricula, represent strong
areas of focus as Larson begins her role. In October,
CommonwealthU signed partnership agreements
with 50 local school districts guaranteeing admission,
merit-based scholarships and on-campus housing for
qualified students. The agreements will help to solidify
CommonwealthU’s campuses as strong choices for
prospective students and their families who are focused
on both affordability and high-quality education.

Perhaps most appealing to future students is the fact that,
across programs and departments, CommonwealthU is
rapidly responding to changing demands.
Provost Diana Rogers-Adkinson cites the curriculum
review process as unique to CommonwealthU and a
benefit of the integration process. She said, “We are currently
engaged in a process to completely design new curricula for
all programs. Meaning, that soon we will likely have the
most updated curricula of any university in the world.”

T

hroughout the summer of 2022, Bloom alumni have
gathered in breweries and restaurants, at ballparks and
vineyards, and in the private homes of fellow Huskies. But
these socials are more than just about sharing food, drink, and
memories. The alums who attend hear campus updates from the
alumni association and learn about opportunities to help students.
“It adds a whole other level of connection,” explained Nathan
Conroy ’06, alumni director. “These socials are a small way
to bring Bloomsburg to our alumni for a few hours. It’s a
tremendous value that’s hard to explain.”
Alumni socials aren’t new to 2022. The earliest regional events
were held by surrounding county chapters in 1935. In the 1960s,
the focus briefly moved to campus celebrations and reunions,
but regional socials returned in the ’70s and ’80s with Berrigan’s
Subs picnics. Regional chapters were again restructured in 2006 to
honor alumni requests for more purposeful engagement.

Alumni Socials

FOSTER STUDENT CONNECTIONS
By Andrea O’Neill

BU alumni gathered at the Great American Pub in Conshohocken in July (left) and the Breaker Brewing Company in Wilkes-Barre in
August (right) for a Husky Happy Hour. Attendees reconnected with fellow alumni, received campus updates, and learned how to get
involved with Professional U.

That focus became sharper in 2014 with the concept of
Professional U when Alumni Engagement and Career Development
joined to be part of a student’s career community with faculty, staff,
and employers. The Alumni and Professional Engagement team has
since been creating opportunities for alumni to bring their successes
back to Bloom as speakers, panelists, mentors, judges, mock
interviewers, and resume reviewers, as well as to encourage their
company to tap the talent of fellow Huskies. As part of University
Advancement, the team also partners with the BU Foundation
to remove financial barriers to off-campus career experiences in
the form of Professional Experience Grants, or PEGs.
“Many of our alumni want to stay engaged, but they don’t know
how,” explained Conroy. “We are grateful for the opportunity to let
them know how to be involved and that what they do is appreciated
and moves the needle for our students on a daily basis.”

While the needs and wishes of alums have changed the association’s
focus over the last 151 years, the message is still simple:
Bloomsburg will always be a part of you, and you will always be
a part of Bloomsburg. Regardless of your major or class year,
there is a student somewhere on campus right now that can
benefit from your wisdom and experience.
“We still provide that social tradition, but we are also proud to
have evolved to a place where we can be responsive to our
alumni and provide them ways to be involved in the University’s
strategic goals,” said Michaels. “(That goal) is to provide a quality
education and help students leverage a network of nearly
80,000 Bloom alums.”
“We’re coming your way because we need your help to help our
students,” said Conroy. “We’ll keep coming back to see you and
provide ways to connect, socialize, and engage.”
Bring a Husky Happy Hour to your area by emailing
alum@bloomu.edu with suggestions for venues with a unique
vibe and semi-private space in a convenient location, especially
if that venue is owned and/or operated by a Bloom grad.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Fall 2022

“Alumni told us they wanted to do something that would impact
students,” said Lynda Michaels, ‘87/‘88M AVP of alumni and
professional engagement. “We’ve since become focused on
providing alumni ways to actively participate in student success.”

15

GROWING STRONGER

Together

Each gift — no matter the size — donors make through the BU Foundation directly impacts our
students and the BU community.
Through another challenging year filled with
change, BU alumni and friends have once again
demonstrated an inspiring and overwhelming
amount of support and commitment to helping our
students achieve success. Together, our alumni and
friends contributed more than $11.7 million in direct
support during the 2021-22 academic year.

1,583 74%
Scholarships and
Professional
Experience Grants
awarded to students

Increase in
immediate-use
support contributed
to the Bloom On Fund

Total New Gifts and Pledges

These gifts have allowed us to establish scholarships,
provided immediate-use funding for students when
and where it’s needed most, and created countless
opportunities for Huskies. Outlined below is a
snapshot of the difference donor support has made
this past year.

40%

Increase in
scholarships and
grants provided to
support BU students

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Fall 2022

$11,700,109

75%

Of gifts to the BU
Foundation were
less than $250

3,908

Total donors made
gifts in FY 2021-22

$3.7M $3.6M $3.5M $935K

In immediate-use
support to the
Bloom On Fund for
Student Opportunity.

In scholarships and
grants provided
to Bloomsburg
University Students.

Total dollars raised for
scholarship support

In total gifts received
from donors who
included BU in their
estate plans.

Learn more >> giving.bloomu.edu/Impact2022 or scan here:
16

A NEW TRADITION BEGINS WITH

Day of Giving
More than 600 Bloomsburg University alumni and supporters
came together to help raise $87,408 in support for BU
students during the inaugural 1867 Minutes of Giving
Challenge. The money raised during the fundraising event,
held from 8 am Thursday, April 7, to 3:07 pm Friday, April 8,
directly supports students across BU’s campus.
“It is wonderful to see these results and how our donors
helped make this event a success,” said President Bashar W.
Hanna, Ph.D. “While we’re always grateful for the financial
support our donors so generously provide, the purpose of this
event was to generate participation and inspire alumni and
supporters to come together in supporting our students.”
Through the 1867-minute fundraiser, various challenges were
announced, with donors having an opportunity to unlock
additional money. Among these was a specific challenge
issued by President Hanna and his administrative team to
generate participation from 100 alumni who graduated within
the past ten years, which would unlock an additional $3,000
in scholarships for BU students. Recent Husky grads answered
the call, with 171 donors Like Arrista Voorhees ‘15 stepping up
to show their support.

Giving Day Success
By the Numbers

$87,408

RAISED DURING GIVING DAY TO SUPPORT
BLOOMSBURG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

$33,219

IN UNRESTRICTED FUNDING RAISED

623

TOTAL DONORS (GOAL: 500)

32

DONOR-FUNDED CHALLENGE GRANTS

196

DONORS RENEWED THEIR SUPPORT TO BU

142

FIRST-TIME DONORS

The donor tally included more than 50 donors
giving to each of BU’s colleges, 180 donors who
made a gift to BU Athletics, and 53 current students
who made their own gifts to support fellow Huskies.
Thank you to everyone who participated in our firstever Day of Giving at Bloomsburg University. Please
enjoy a special message of thanks from our students
by scanning the QR code below:

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Fall 2022

“Once the student caller told me a little bit more about the giving day and what
the money was for, I was happy to make a gift and show my support for the 1867
Minutes of Giving. I loved my time at BU. I made my gift to the ...see more

17

HUSKY NOTES

70s

90s

Joan Platko Krasnisky ’73/’75M
was named Mercer County (N.J.)
Superintendent of the Year. Krasnisky has
been the superintendent of the Marie H.
Katzenbach School for the Deaf in Ewing
since 2015 and has served as the school’s
director of curriculum and instruction
for the past 18 years. Under Krasnisky’s
leadership, Katzenbach transitioned
to community-based instruction and
person-centered planning. She also
integrated Positive Behavior Support
in School (PBSIS) and added training
in Applied Behavioral Analysis. She has
also been instrumental in increasing and
enhancing security measures on the
school’s campus.

Michele McClellan Stine ’91, associate
teaching professor of biobehavioral health,
has been named chair and chair-elect of
the Penn State Faculty Senate. A member
of the American Public Health Association
and a researcher with interests in health
education and psychopharmacology,
Stine has published more than a dozen
scientific publications and abstracts.
She teaches numerous courses in
biobehavioral health in the College of
Health and Human Development, as well
as psychophysiology in the College of
the Liberal Arts. She has been recognized
by Penn State with the Biobehavioral
Health Undergraduate Teaching Award
and the Biobehavioral Health Alumni
Mentorship Award.

Jim Thompson ’76 has taken up
songwriting after retirement and was
recently featured on the cover and in
an article in the April 2022 edition of
Country Express Magazine.

80s

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Fall 2022

Richard DiLiberto ’82 was reappointed
chair of the Delaware Italian Commission.
The commission has nine members,
three appointed by the speaker of
the House, three by the president pro
tempore of the Senate, and three by the
governor. The commission’s statutory
duties are to establish, maintain, and
develop cultural ties between Italians
and Italian-Americans, foster a special
interest in the historical and cultural
backgrounds of both groups, and help
establish or promote Italian-language
programs in Delaware schools. DiLiberto
is a law partner in the personal injury
litigation section of Young Conaway
Stargatt & Taylor, LLP, and served in the
Delaware House of Representatives from
1992-2002.

18

Charles Warner ’83 co-authored an
article with Dr. Todd Harvurn for the
May 2022 edition of the Greasy Grass
Magazine titled: “The Hand of Providence:
Contrast in Faith of Two Enlisted Men of
the 7th Cavalry at the Little Big Horn.”
Charles Zwicker ’88 served as one of
30 judges for Berks’ Best 2022 academic
award project. Zwicker serves as chief
operating officer for Weidenhammer, a
global digital transformation and consulting
firm headquartered in Wyomissing.
His volunteer roles in the community
include the Boy Scouts of America, the
Montgomery County Election Board, and
a steering committee member at LaSalle
College High School.

Mark Ream ’93 has been named vice
president of information technology
at Eagle Transport Corporation,
headquartered in Rocky Mount, N.C.
He joined the Eagle Transport team as
a technical project manager and senior
systems analyst in 2005 and since 2020
has served as the director of information
technology.
Jaime Gallagher ’94 accepted a
position as assistant professor of English
at Northampton Community College
in Bethlehem. Gallagher has 18 years
experience at Northampton as an
adjunct instructor, during which he
received the Award for Excellence in
Teaching by an Adjunct Faculty Member
(2018) and Online Instructor of the
Month (June 2021).

independent podcasters with its mission
to drive education and evolution of the
medium. Green is the head of podcast
strategy and tech for Audacy and Cadence13
and previously ran sales and content for
Adlarge and PodcastOne. He also sits on
the IAB’s Tech Lab Audio Committees.

00s
Allen Snook ’01 has been named
athletic director at East Stroudsburg
University. He was formerly athletic
director at Cedar Crest College.
Kristin Gessner McLaughlin ’02 has
been named principal transportation
planner at SEDA-COG, headquartered
in Lewisburg. McLaughlin has been with
SEDA-COG since 2012, working in their
community development department
administering Lycoming County’s CDBG
program. She has been employed in the
planning and community development
field throughout the region for 20 years.
Her previous positions include Elm Street
manager for Sunbury Revitalization,
transportation planning specialist for
PennDOT’s Bureau of Rail Freight, and
community planner for Union County
Planning Commission.
Steven Scott ’03 celebrated his fifth
year as a marketing instructor at the
Bloomsburg campus of Commonwealth
University. He also has been teaching
one night a week at McCann School of
Business and taught an online class at
Lock Haven.

David Bacher ’95 was named the
administrative director of SUN Area
Technical Institute in New Berlin. He
previously taught English at Danville and
Mount Carmel schools and worked as an
administrator at Columbia Montour Area
Vocational Technical School, Northwest
Area School District and Shikellamy
School District. He was most recently an
assistant principal at Shikellamy.

Vincent James ’07 has been named
deputy athletics director for internal
operations at Penn State University.
James will be responsible for the athletic
department’s strategic planning and
analysis. He will also oversee capital
projects, facility and event operations,
information technology, Penn State
Golf Course operations, and equipment
operations.

Jon Pollard ’97 was recently appointed
superintendent of the Wyoming Area
School District. After graduating from
Bloomsburg, Pollard continued his
education at West Chester University,
the University of Pennsylvania, and
Wilkes University, where he earned
his doctorate degree. He has been at
Wyoming Area since 2010.

Deanna Marcinko Smith ’07 was
promoted to office manager for the
Scranton Member Service Office. Smith
started her career with the agency in
1999 as a part-time employee in the
emergency road service department.
During that time, she took on various
roles including trainer of new employees
and shift supervisor. After earning her
degree, she returned to the company full
time as a night and weekend supervisor
and since 2014 has managed the
Honesdale Member Service Office.

Jay Green ’98 has been elected to
the Board of Directors for the Podcast
Academy. The Podcast Academy
recognizes the work of all leading and

HUSKY NOTES

Sarah Thomson Maneval ’09 has
been named vice president/commercial
services officer at First Keystone
Community Bank. Maneval comes to
First Keystone with 11 years of banking
experience, starting as a teller, and

moving into the commercial services
specializing in agricultural and farm
loans. She serves as treasurer for the
Selinsgrove Rotary Club, a board member
of the Middlecreek Area Community
Center, and a member of the Woman’s
Leadership Committee with the Greater
Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Christopher Zlobik ’09 has been
named senior vice president at First
Keystone Community Bank, based out
of the bank’s main office on Front Street.
Zlobik has been with First Keystone
since 2011 and has served the past five
years as deposit operations manager.
He’s a graduate of American Bankers
Association Stonier Graduate School of
Banking and the Pennsylvania Bankers
Advanced School of Banking. He serves

as a member of the Berwick Industrial
Development Association (BIDA) and as
a member of Berwick: The Next Step
Steering Committee representing First
Keystone Community Bank.

10s
Christopher Matthews ’14 has
been named assistant vice president/
commercial services officer, based out
of the Scott Township office, at First
Keystone Community Bank. He started
his banking career in Philadelphia before
joining First Keystone as a credit analyst
and rising to commercial loan officer. He
is currently enrolled in the ColumbiaMontour Chamber of Commerce
Leadership Central Penn program.

The sign language performance group, recently held a 45th anniversary celebration. Attendees included current members Kaitlyn
Stacherski, Madison Sloan, Riley Draddy, Kimberly Mitchell, and Anne Garrett. Former members who attended were: Kristen Blatt,
Catherine Cody, Kristin Connolly, Sarah Downey, Cindy Farrell, Kristen Fitzgerald, Tushanna Flynn, Sasha Forbes, Sarabeth George,
Emily Gowin, Kayla Haskins, Shanin Haskins, Valerie Hoffman, Annie Koch, Emily Krause, Kim McCall, Jennifer McGowan, Megan
Newman, Becky Peters, Lisa Scala, Chloe Spranger, Hailey Sweeney, Paula Toborowski, Jennifer Warsing, Theresa Whitebread, and
Tiffany Winkler.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Fall 2022

Steven Sweigert ’08 has been appointed
as a general board member for Atlantic
General Hospital, which provides health
care services in Maryland and Delaware. A
financial advisor and partner with Mitchell
and Hastings Financial Services, Sweigert
has earned the Chartered Retirement
Planning Counselor designation. Sweigert
has been involved with the hospital
for many years, serving on the AGH
Foundation Board and continuing to
co-chair the annual Robert E. Warfield
Memorial Fall Golf Classic.

19

HUSKY NOTES

Jose Mojica ’14 has joined the Bernards
Township (N.J.) Police Department. He most
recently served since 2019 as a patrol
officer with the Lopatcong Township
Police Department in Warren County
and was previously a sheriff’s officer and
corrections officer in Warren County.
Brianna Johns ’17 is the new
education director of Mighty Writers,
a nonprofit that helps children and
teens in Philadelphia, New Jersey, and
Kennett Square improve their writing
skills. Mighty Writers serves more than
3,500 children a year. Johns has taught
elementary students at the Uncommon
Schools in Brooklyn, New York, and
at the John Barry Elementary School,
Belmont Charter Network, and Master
Charter Schools in Philadelphia. Prior
to becoming the education director at
Mighty Writers, she served as the upper
school English teacher at the Agnes Irwin
School in Bryn Mawr. She is currently
completing her doctorate in English
pedagogy at Murray State University and
also self-published two children’s books,
Nailed It and Reese Rescues.

In Memoriam

ROBERT OLIVER,
Journalist, businessperson, actor and producer
Robert B. Oliver Jr. ’74, a retired vice
president with publishing giant Gannett
who found a second career in films,
died Aug. 9 of cancer at age 70.
While at Bloomsburg, he was an editor
for the college newspaper, then called
The Maroon & Gold. A high point in his
collegiate journalism career was a oneon-one interview with boxing legend
Muhammad Ali. He also lettered in golf,
took pictures for the yearbook, and was
treasurer for the student government.
A December graduate, he earned a
degree in political science with certification in journalism, then went on to
earn a master’s in journalism at Temple
University. A golf writer for more
than 30 years, his work appeared in
Golfweek, Chesapeake Life, and Golf
Pennsylvania/Golf Northeast.

20s
Lucas Mariano ’21M joined the
neurosurgery team at UPMC in
Williamsport.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Fall 2022

Christopher McCormick ’21 joined
Brown Schultz Sheridan & Fritz as an audit
staff accountant in their Camp Hill office.

In retirement he became an actor and film and theater producer,
appearing in 20 movies, notably as Crank the Clown in the Clown Motel
horror movies, and produced several others.

Marriages

Births

Samuel Rubbico ’82
& Eloisa Batac Rubbico

Samantha (Kropa) Davis ’09 & Herman Davis,
a daughter, Nalani Kai Davis, April 11, 2021.

Lindsey (Beiter) ’13 & Kyle Yeager,
a son, Kellan James, June 22, 2022

Steven Scott ’03
& Jackie Scott

Chris Bono’08 & Laura (Fox) Bono ’07,
a daughter, Calla Lynn, Nov. 6, 2021

Danielle Bailey ’12 & Jeffery R. Bailey,
a son, Jack Richard, June 23, 2022

Jenna Butko vsky ’10
& Timothy McCarthy

Anysia Ensslen-Boggs ’05/’07M
& Christopher Boggs, twin boys, Walter
Harold and Peter Joseph, May 10, 2022

Matthew ’10 & Bethany (Blakeslee) Slonaker,
a daughter, Adeline Kate, June 25, 2022

Gabriella Cicerchia Walter ’18
& Andrew Walter

20

Elizabeth Urban Skitsko ’00 & Brian Skitsko,
a daughter, Maggie Elizabeth, May 25, 2022.

Michael ’12 & Katie (Kudrick) Molesevich,
a son, Lucas John, July 2, 2022

Brian ’14 & Amanda (Mariano) Nungesser,
a son, Leo Martin, May 27, 2022

Send information to: magazine@bloomu.edu
Bloomsburg: The University Magazine | Arts and Administration Building | 400 E. Second Street | Bloomsburg, PA 17815-1301

HUSKY NOTES

Rachel Yarowsky Ratowsky ’42
Catherine Jones Wagner ’43
Mary Pelchar Chamberlain ’47
Dorothy Winkelblech Watts ’48
Ruth Krajnik ’49
Walter Bird ’50
Marcella Evasic Marlin ’50
Donald Parry ’50
Atwood Badman ’52
Barbara Hessert Perna ’52
William Cleaver ’53
Joseph Feifer ’53
Michael Crisci ’54
Ferne Soberick Krothe ’54
Jeananne Evans Scrimgeour ’54
Nancy Snyder Brehm ’55
Alice Fisher Higgins ’55
Lake Hartman ’56
Carl Richie ’56
Harriet Link Camp ’57
Enola VanAuken Hawk ’57
Carol Hetherington ’57
Janet Plummer Masterman ’57
John Moss ’57
Robert Yori ’57
Patricia Dorsey Arnold ’58
John Jessop ’58
Lawrence Maylock ’58
Hettie Jones Bixler ’59
Ronald Davis ’59
Betty Moser Gass ’59
Earl Levengood ’59
Raymond Sugalski ’59
Sue Greenland Williams ’59
Robert Thomas Price ’60
Donald Samsel ’60
John Seamon ’60
Jean Schell Bonta ’61
James Conrad ’61
Rebecca Henry Williams ’61
Theodore Andrewlevich ’62
Carolyn Doyle ’62
Joseph Enney ’62
Thomas Gladsky ’62
Lynn Paul ’62
John Shannon ’62
John Shuman ’62
John Smith ’62
William Archibald ’63

Paul Bingaman ’63
Carol Haswell ’63
James McShea ’63
Michael Wagner ’63
Reginald Arnold ’64
Patricia Lagana Abraczinskas ’65
Ronald Lubas ’65
Francis Plucinsky ’65
Arthur Saxe ’65
Terrance Wood ’65
Victor Campbell ’66
Mary Colarusso Scarantino ’66
Edward Grubb ’67
Clipson Martin ’66
Greta Miller ’67
William Solava ’67
John Wardigo ’67
Emma Woodruff ’67
Dennis Anna ’68
Ann Witmer Cooper ’68
Paul Recene ’68
David Roberts ’68
Thomas Baily ’69
John Bane ’69
Joyce Galli Burns ’69
Pat Swartz Chellew ’69
Marshall Childs ’69
Donna Dalesandro ’69
Betty McPherson Kase ’69
Ruth Sick Slocum ’69
Robert String ’69
Francis Chopko ’70
P. Peter Hanzlick ’70
Patrick McAndrew ’70
Robert Puchyr ’70
John Quinn ’70
Mary Coddington Umlauf ’70
Irene Mathews Williams ’70
Forrest Benner ’71
William Gallagher ’71
MaryAnn Evans Lazor ’71
Kay Sorber Ledford ’71
Joanne Antonelli Marsicano ’71
Wayne Rake ’71
Sandra Jefferson Rupp ’71
JoAnn Wolinsky ’71
Sarah Adams Frey ’72
Jack Kettler ’72
Constance Nagle Kundrot ’72

Barbara Foust McCollum ’72
Oliver Pettebone ’72
Kathleen Wisneski Drennan ’73
Gerald Mordan ’73
Phillip Struzzeri ’73
Judith Surak ’73
Ralph Tribendis ’73
Sonya Rutkowski Villari ’73
Tony Fanella ’74
Michael Cerimele ’74
Patricia Jacobs ’74
Gregory Wyatt ’74
Paula Bugler Berry Zechman ’74
John Boran ’75
Michael Budzyn ’75
Lester Charles Burgess ’75
Emil Gerchak ’75
Frank Greco ’75
Irene Lebo ’75
Dennis Margitich ’75
Paul Reeder ’75
James Stank ’75
Lee Taylor ’75
Margaret Venn Zeiders ’75
Andrew Mone ’76
Donald Nauss ’76
Richard Peck ’76
Joseph Andrew Rokita ’76
Thomas Patrick Smith ’76
Judith Sider O ’Donnell ’77
Joseph Siudock ’77
Rosemary Smith ’77
Nancy Williams ’77
John Baer ’78
Deborah Fedastian Bixby ’78
Michael Criqui ’78
Robert Ronald Simononis ’78
Elizabeth Barkasy Toms ’78
Susanne Johnson-Grindley ’79
Joseph Nigro ’79
Charles Novinskie ’79
Linda Machusak Reed ’79
Joan Walko ’79
Robert Auman ’80
Carol Cunningham ’80
Rosemarie Garramone ’80
Lorraine Mongiello ’80
James Peffley ’80
Ronald Shoemaker ’80

George Kmiecinski ’81
Louella Noble ’81
Robert Novak ’81
Denise Trager Prislupski ’81
Michael Kane ’83
Jill Scott ’84
Idita Toole Dennehy ’85
Kevin Turner ’85
Joann Zenon Gregory ’86
Laurie Doll Luther ’86
Shirley Hamilton Cicero ’87
Margaret Gilvary ’87
John Pisaneschi ’87
Michael Taggart ’87
M. Jane Levengood ’88
Jeffrey Sparks ’89
Robert Aungst ’90
Sarah Vankat Luchansky ’90
Brian Nahodil ’90
Loretta Desimone ’91
Keith Houser ’91
Erin Ryan Knoepfel ’91
Wayne Rarig ’91
Joseph Marsicano ’93
Frederick Schrandt ’93
Theresa SnyderHetherington ’93
Nadine Distasio ’94
Pamela Kontz ’94
Jevin McGonigle ’94
Eleanor Wyland ’94
Nicholas Harvey ’95
Gerald Mahon ’95
Ronald Miller ’95
Carol Paige ’98
Joseph Sweeney ’00
John Brogan ’02
Harold Geise ’03
Ann Marie O’Donnell ’03
Eric Beck ’05
Michael Loughlin ’06
Christine Prep ’09
Shawn Darraugh ’11
Ross Arnold ’14
Samira Zarreii ’17

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Fall 2022

Obituaries

21

FEATURE

ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME

Class of 2022 Honored
Six Husky Greats Enshrined Forever in the Hall of Fame
In what proved to be a fitting end to
Bloomsburg’s 2022 Homecoming
Weekend, six former Husky standouts
were enshrined on Oct. 23 in the
Athletics Hall of Fame, where they’ll be
remembered forever.

M. Lelko, a standout wide receiver for
the football program, earned multiple
All-American honors for the Huskies. He
is the school’s all-time leader in career
receptions (262), receiving yards (3,574),
and touchdown receptions (43).

The members of the 2022 Hall of Fame
Class included Christine (Basalyga)
Zalewski ’96, Rebecca Headley ’98,
Michael Lelko ’01, Ronald Lelko ’98, Joel
Melitski ’64, and Michael Wenrich ’82.

R. Lelko played a vital role in
Bloomsburg’s football dominance in
the late 90s. During his four-year AllAmerican career, the Huskies went 3510-1, captured four PSAC East titles and
made one NCAA playoff appearance.

Zalewski, a standout field hockey player,
was a three-time All-American who led
Bloomsburg to the 1993 NCAA Division
II national title. Her standout play guided
the Huskies to back-to-back Pennsylvania
State Athletic Conference (PSAC) titles in
1992 and 1993.
Headley was a two-time All-American for
the women’s soccer team, who led the
Huskies to a pair of PSAC runner-up
finishes. Today, she still ranks fourth all-time
in career goals (37) and she is sixth in
career points (85).

Melitski was a four-year varsity letter
winner for the Bloomsburg wrestling
program from 1960-64. He was the NAIA
national runner-up in 1964 and captured
a PSAC title that same season.
Wenrich was a member of the men’s
track & field team and also a standout
basketball player during his time at
Bloomsburg from 1979-82. In just over
three seasons, he scored 1,397 points,
the ninth-best mark in school history.

The Bloomsburg Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2022 was officially announced in August.
For more information, and for the inductee’s full biographies, visit BUHuskies.com.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Fall 2022

Pictured, left to Right: Dr. Diana Rogers-Adkinson (Provost and Senior Vice President
for Academic Affairs), Michael Lelko, Christine (Basalyga) Zalewski, Joel Melitski,
Rebecca (Creedon) Headley, Ronald Lelko and Dr. Michael McFarland (Director of
Athletics)

22

Jahri Evans ’07 Named
Modern-Era Nominee for
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Bloomsburg Athletics Hall of Famer
and 2007 graduate Jahri Evans has
been selected as one of 129 Modern-Era
nominees for the Pro Football Hall of
Fame Class of 2023. Evans is in his first
year of eligibility for the Pro Football
Hall of Fame.
Selected to the Bloomsburg Athletics
Hall of Fame in 2018, Evans is one of
the most decorated offensive linemen
to ever wear the maroon and gold.
Evans was selected in the fourth
round of the 2006 NFL Draft by
the New Orleans Saints. During his
professional career, he was selected to
six consecutive Pro Bowls (2009-14)
and was named a First Team All-Pro in
four consecutive seasons (2009-12). As
a member of Saints, Evans helped lead
the team to victory in Super Bowl XLIV
and was a member of the New Orleans’
50th Anniversary Team in 2016.
Evans is one of nine players in their
first year of eligibility among the list
of modern-era nominees for the Pro
Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023.
The 129 nominees will be cut to 25
semifinalists in November and the 15
finalists will be revealed in January 2023.

Varano Returns, Leads Huskies in More Ways Than One
Graduate student Nicole
Varano has been an integral
part of the Bloomsburg
women’s soccer team’s
success over the last three
seasons, and she took took
full advantage of one more
run this fall with the Huskies.
Without question, her
athletic accomplishments are
mirrored by her academic
success and prestigious
status as a Bloomsburg
nursing student.
Despite graduating, she was
back and lead the way with
her play this fall, which was
once again at an elite level.
“At the time, it felt like a such a difficult decision, but looking
back at it, I don’t know why I made it so hard on myself,”
Varano said, on returning to play. “Now that I am here, I can’t
imagine doing anything else.”
Varano’s returned to fantastic form this season and she was
once again honored by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
(PSAC) with All-Conference honors. She was named to the
2022 All-PSAC First Team and led the team into the conference
playoffs and NCAA tournament. Varano finished this most recent
season with a team-high 10 goals and a Bloomsburg-best 23
points. During the regular season, her exeptional play helped
guide the Huskies to a national ranking as high as No. 13.
“The chemistry and drive that we have to work for each other
and not individual success is why we have been so successful.

We look at how we can improve as a team and not just
individuals,” said Varano. “This team, for the past four years, has
been like family and I’m so happy to be a part of it. It’s honestly a
privilege to be a part of the Bloomsburg women’s soccer family.”
No doubt, Varano embodies what it means to be a studentathlete at a highly competitive level.
Previously, she was honored by the PSAC as an All-PSAC
Eastern Division First Team forward in 2019. During Bloomsburg’s
run to the 2019 NCAA Division II Atlantic Region championship
she scored 10 goals including the winning-goal versus West
Chester in that regional championship match.
Her athletic accomplishments have not overshadowed her
classroom success. Varano is a four-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete
and a three-time Division II Athletic Directors Association
(D2ADA) Scholar-Athlete. Her undergraduate career culminated
with a hard-earned degree in nursing.
Varano graduated with the highest overall GPA in her nursing
class. Upon graduating, the nursing department presented Varano
with The Geisinger Award, given for outstanding clinical
performance.
While continuing her academic career and pursuing her dreams,
Varano took full advantage of a fifth-year granted by the NCAA
because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her leadership and standout play certainly led Bloomsburg on
another remarkable run. Varano embodies the Huskie way, and
she will forever do all she can to support her teammates, and
drive forward Bloomsburg’s championship standard.
“I think there is a lot of talent on this team, and when you
combine the talent with the love for each other, and the love
for the game, you see a lot of success and we have found a
way to do that.”

LIFE BEYOND THE BENCH: Q&A with Men’s Tennis Captain, Oliver Wiesemann
Oliver Wiesemann
Jena, Germany
Senior
MAJOR: International Business/Professional Sales and Marketing
HOMETOWN:

HONORS:

•
•
•
•

2X Team Captain, 2021-22, 2022-23
2022 PSAC Men’s Tennis Champion Scholar
4X PSAC Scholar-Athlete (2021-22, 2020-21, 2019-20, 2018-19)
3X D2 ADA Scholar-Athlete (2021-22, 2020-21, 2019-20)

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE BLOOMSBURG?

“Bloomsburg seemed like the best fit for me, because I got along
very well with the coaches, and was shown, and introduced to
the great sports facilities, which included 13 tennis courts! The
campus is beautiful and well taken care of, so it’s a great home
away from home.”

Read more
from Oliver’s
interview
online:

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Fall 2022

ACADEMIC YEAR:

23

celebrating our Husky history

THEN & NOW
1938 Ben Franklin Training
School class.
1921 Noetling Hall Training
School classroom.

The Early Years
of Teacher Education
at Bloomsburg

1908 Science Hall
biology lecture.

By Robert Dunkelberger
The history of higher education in Bloomsburg dates back to the
Bloomsburg Academy in 1839 and did not reach a higher level until
1866, when Henry Carver opened the Bloomsburg Literary Institute.
The Institute, however, only offered an academic program that led
students on to college. It was not until the Institute was named a
State Normal School in 1869 that a second option in education was
now available. A campus elementary school was established, and
the first class of teachers graduated the following year.

1900 Noetling Hall
Latin class.

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Fall 2022

For the next 50 years these were the two major programs offered,
with education classes primarily held in the model school building,
which was named Noetling Hall in 1927. That was actually just one
of the campus buildings where the Normal School students learned
their craft. From its opening in 1867 until 1953 the first floor of
Carver Hall held classrooms for both teachers in training and junior
high school students. Science Hall, which opened in 1907, utilized
newer methods of instruction, including the use of lantern slides.

24

It was with the elementary-age children that the Normal School
students got out of their classrooms and engaged in hands-on
work with teaching. Noetling Hall was the home of the model/
training school until a much more modern facility, Ben Franklin,
was completed in 1930 and remained the home of the laboratory
school until it closed in 1967. During these latter years it consisted of
kindergarten, special education class, and grades 1 to 6, with multiple
student teachers working with the faculty member for each grade.
The Normal School transitioned to a State Teachers College in
1927, after the state gave it the authority to grant a Bachelor of
Science in Education. This remained the sole focus of educational
offerings at Bloomsburg until the 1960s, when the now Bloomsburg
State College could grant both master’s and undergraduate
degrees in other disciplines than education. Even so, the historical
focus of education remains an important component of now
Commonwealth University, as Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and
Mansfield all have a common heritage in training teachers for
the public schools of Pennsylvania.

1921 Institute Hall
junior high class.

25

Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Fall 2022

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Arts and Administration Building
Bloomsburg University
400 E. Second St.
Bloomsburg, PA 17815-1301

SHOW YOUR HUSKY PRIDE,
whatever your class year.

Shop in-person or online bloomustore.com
GENERAL INFORMATION: 570-389-4175
CUSTOMER SERVICE: 570-389-4180

bustore@bloomu.edu
A NOTE TO PARENTS

WANT TO UNSUBSCRIBE?

RECEIVING DUPLICATE COPIES?

If this issue of Bloomsburg: The
University Magazine is addressed
to a daughter or son who has
established a separate residence,
please notify us of that new
address by sending an email to:
magazine@bloomu.edu

If you no longer wish to
receive the print edition of the
magazine, please notify us by
sending an email to:
magazine@bloomu.edu

If you are receiving more than one copy of
Bloomsburg: The University Magazine, please forward
the mailing label panel from each issue you receive to:
Bloomsburg: The University Magazine
Arts and Administration Building
400 E. Second Street
Bloomsburg, PA 17815-1301